Biology Unit 6 - Lions

Age structure

the distribution of the proportion of population members in each age class

birth rate

the number of births within a population at a specific point in time

carrying capacity

the maximum number of individuals of a population that can be supported by the limited resources of a habitat

climax community

the final stage of succession, where a stable community is formed by a characteristic assortment of plant and animal species

competitive exclusion principle

no two species within a habitat can coexist indefinitely when they compete for the same resources at the same time and place

death rate

the number of deaths within a population at a specific point in time

demography

the statistical study of changes in populations over time

density-dependent regulation

the regulation of population in which birth and death rates are dependent on population size

density-independent regulation

the regulation of population in which the death rate is independent of the population size

environmental disturbance

a change in the environment caused by natural disasters or human activities

exponential growth

an accelerating growth pattern seen in populations where resources are not limiting

foundation species

a species which often forms the major structural portion of the habitat

host

an organism a parasite lives on

intraspecific competition

the competition among members of the same species

island biogeography

the study of life on island chains and how their geography interacts with the diversity of species found there

J-shaped growth curve

the shape of an exponential growth curve

K-selected species

a species suited to stable environments that produce a few, relatively large offspring and provide parental care

keystone species

a species whose presence is key to maintaining biodiversity in an ecosystem and to upholding an ecological community’s structure

life table

a table showing the life expectancy of a population member based on its age

logistic growth

the leveling off of exponential growth due to limiting resources

mark and recapture

a method used to determine population size in mobile organisms

mimicry

an adaptation in which an organism looks like another organism that is dangerous, toxic, or distasteful to its predators

mortality rate

the proportion of population surviving to the beginning of an age interval that dies during that age interval

mutualism

a symbiotic relationship between two species where both species benefit

one-child policy

a policy in China to limit population growth by limiting urban couples to have only one child or face a penalty of a fine

parasite

an organism that uses resources from another species: the host

pioneer species

the first species to appear in primary and secondary succession

population density

the number of population members divided by the area being measured

population size

the number of individuals in a population

primary succession

the succession on land that previously has had no life

quadrat

a square within which a count of individuals is made that is combined with other such counts to determine population size and density in slow moving or stationary organisms

r-selected species

a species suited to changing environments that produce many offspring and provide little or no parental care

relative species abundance

the absolute population size of a particular species relative to the population size of other species within the community

S-shaped growth curve

the shape of a logistic growth curve

secondary succession

the succession in response to environmental disturbances that move a community away from its equilibrium

species distribution pattern

the distribution of individuals within a habitat at a given point in time

species richness

the number of different species in a community

zero population growth

the steady population size where birth rates and death rates are equal

survivorship curve

a graph of the number of surviving population members versus the relative age of the member