Introduction to Ecology - Population Ecology

These flashcards cover key concepts from the ecology lecture regarding population ecology and species interactions.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Biotic Factors

Living organisms that affect the environment, such as predators and competitors.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Biotic Factors

Living organisms that affect the environment, such as predators and competitors.

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving aspects of the environment, including topology, precipitation, humidity, temperature, and climate.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

Population Ecologist

A scientist who studies how the number of individuals in a population changes over time.

Density

The number of individuals in a population divided by the range over which they are spread.

Survivorship

The proportion of individuals from an initial cohort that survive each successive stage of their life cycle.

R-strategists

Species that reproduce rapidly and produce many offspring in unpredictable environments.

K-strategists

Species that produce fewer offspring and invest more care in their young, typically in stable environments.

Mutualism

An interaction between two species in which both benefit (+/+ interaction).

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Resource Partitioning

The division of resources among species to minimize competition and allow coexistence.

Cohort

A group of individuals born at the same time, often used in population studies.

Life History

The typical pattern of resource investment in growth, maintenance, and reproduction by an organism.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that levels off as the population approaches the carrying capacity of the environment.

Exponential Growth

A model of population growth that occurs with no constraints, leading to rapid increases.

Demography

The study of the size, structure, and distribution of populations.

Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including habitat requirements and ecological role.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition for resources among individuals of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition for resources among individuals of different species.

Biodiversity

The variety of species, genetic sequences, and ecosystems in a particular area.

Succession

The process of change and replacement of species in a habitat over time.

Meta-Population

A collection of local populations linked by corridors and movements within landscapes.