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Population Density (DP)

The number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume in a specific habitat.

Growth Rate (GR)

The rate at which a population's size increases or decreases over a given period.

Per Capita Growth Rate (CGR)

The average growth rate of a population per individual, often expressed as the number of offspring produced per individual.

Biotic Potential (r)

The maximum rate at which a population could increase under ideal conditions with unlimited resources.

Exponential Growth Pattern

A pattern of population growth where the population size increases at an accelerating rate.

Logistic Growth Pattern

A pattern of population growth where the population size levels off as it approaches the carrying capacity.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum number of individuals of a population that a given environment can support.

Density-Dependent Factors

Environmental factors, such as competition and predation, whose intensity is related to population density.

Environmental Resistance

Factors that limit the growth of a population, including density-dependent factors and other constraints in the environment.

Density-Independent Factors

Environmental factors, such as natural disasters, that affect populations regardless of their density.

r-Selected Strategies

Reproductive strategies that maximize population growth with a focus on producing many offspring, often in unstable environments.

K-Selected Strategies

Reproductive strategies that optimize the success of offspring by investing more time and resources in fewer offspring, often in stable environments.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition for resources among individuals of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition for resources between individuals of different species.

Predators

Organisms that kill and consume other organisms (prey) for food.

Prey

Organisms that are hunted and consumed by predators.

Protective Coloration

A type of adaptation where organisms have colors or patterns that help them blend into their environment, providing protection from predators.

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between different species.

Mutualism

A type of symbiosis where both interacting species benefit from the relationship.

Commensalism

A type of symbiosis where one species benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

A type of symbiosis where one organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of another (host).

Succession

The gradual and sequential process of ecological change in a particular area over time.

Primary Succession

The process of ecological succession starting from a barren, lifeless substrate, such as bare rock.

Pioneer Community

The initial community of organisms that colonize an area in primary succession.

Climax Community

The stable, mature community that eventually forms after the completion of ecological succession.

Ecological Disturbance

A disruption in the balance of an ecosystem, often leading to changes in community structure.

Secondary Succession

The process of ecological succession in an area where a previous community has been disrupted but soil remains.

Age Pyramid

A graphical representation of the age structure of a population, showing the number of individuals in different age groups.