Carrying Capacity, Population Growth, and Resource Availability

Density Dependent Factor

factors that influence and individual’s probability of survival and reproduction in a manner that depends on the size of the population

Density Independent Factors

those that have the same effect on an indivuidual’s probability of survival and reproduction at any population size

Exponential Growth Model

model that estimate’s a population’s future size after a given period of time based on the period of time based on he biotic potential and the number of reproducing individuals currently on the population

Growth Rate

r

J-shaped curve

the change in a growing population over time

Logistic Growth Model

describes a population whose growth is initially exponential but slows as the population approaches the carrying capacity of the environment

The carrying capacity

K

Limiting Resources

a resource that a population cannot live without and that occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size

Biotic Potential

producing unlimited resources regardless of population size

Fecundity

ability to produce an abundance of offspring