LEC 14: Populations Intro

This flashcard set covers key concepts in ecology, focusing on population dynamics, distribution, and factors influencing species survival.

Population

A group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a specific area at the same time.

Population Density

The number of individuals per unit area.

Absolute Density

The number of individuals per unit area.

Ecological Density

The number of individuals per unit area of suitable habitat.

Distribution

The spatial arrangement of individuals in a population.

Demographics

Birth/death rate, immigration/emigration rate in a population.

Clumped Distribution

A pattern where individuals live in areas of high local abundance, separated by areas of low abundance.

Regular Distribution

A pattern where individuals are evenly spaced, often due to antagonistic interactions.

Random Distribution

A distribution pattern where individuals occur with equal probability throughout an area.

Drivers of Numerical Responses

Conceptual patterns in predator-prey dynamics influenced by reproduction and dispersal.

Functional Response

The change in feeding rate of predators in response to prey density.

Time Lag

The delay between peaks in prey population and predator population.

Dispersal

Permanent movement of individuals between populations.

Immigration

Movement into a local population.

Emigration

Movement out of a local population.

Metapopulation

A group of subpopulations living in patches connected by dispersal.

Species Niche Requirements

Specific environmental conditions necessary for a species to thrive.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, where life exists.

Community

A group of interacting species in a given area.

Ecosystem

A biological community interacting with its physical environment.

Landscape

A region that includes multiple ecosystems.

Conservation Biology

The study of species extinction risk and efforts to preserve biodiversity.

Restoration Ecology

The practice of reintroducing species to their natural habitats.

Invasion Ecology

The study of how new species spread and their impact on native ecosystems.

Rarity Influencing Factors

Geographic range, habitat tolerance, and population size affect a species' rarity.

Extinction

The state of no longer existing in the world.

Endangered Species

Species that are at immediate risk of extinction.

Threatened Species

Species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.

Data Deficient Species

Species for which there is insufficient data to assess their risk of extinction.

Average Population Density

The average number of individuals per area for a species.

Herbivore Density

The population density of herbivorous mammals per unit area.

Clumped Pattern Drivers

Mutual interactions and patchy resource distributions that reinforce clumping.

Regular Pattern Drivers

Antagonistic interactions and uniform resource distribution that create regular spacing.

Local Scale Distribution

Distribution patterns on a small scale with little environmental change.

Geographic Scale Distribution

Distribution patterns on a large scale with significant environmental variation.

Species Interaction

The relationships and effects species have on one another in a community.

Community Dynamics

How species interactions affect coexistence in a community.

Population Structure

The composition of a population defined by age distribution and sex ratio.

Fire Effects on Ecosystems

How wildfires can influence nutrient availability in ecosystems.

Predator-Prey Dynamics

The interactions and population responses between predators and their prey.