Intro Ecology + Describing Populations

Ecology

the study of interactions of organisms with each other and their environments

Biotic components are

living

Abiotic components

non-living

populations and community include

one species

Ecosystem

community abiotic factors

Bisome

similar ecosystem

biosphere

Earth

What affects the biosphere?

constantly changing mix of biotic and abitoic factors shapes the entire

Species

group of similar organisms that can breed and produce

population

a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

community

assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

ecosystem

all the organisms that live in a place together with their non-living environment

biotic factor

any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

abiotic factor

physical, or non-living factor shapes an ecosystem

population density

number of individuals per unit

population distribution

describes the way individuals are spaced across their range

logistic growth

growth pattern in which a population’s growth slows and following a period of exponential growth

carrying capacity

largest number of individuals of particular species that a particular environment can support

limiting factor

factor that causes population growth to decrease

density-dependent limiting factor

limiting factor that depends on population density

density-independent limiting factor

limiting factor that affects all population in similar ways

group of organisms of the same species

live in the same area

species are organisms that can

breed and have viable offspring

Population density is

the number of individuals/area

factors that affect population

immigration means

moving out

emigration means

moving out

Clumped distribution means

resources evenly dispersed organisms often gather near resources or for protection

Uniform distribution means

competition for resource or territory

Random distribution means

not commonly seen, no positive or negative interactions

Horses are different species than donkeys

they can reproduce to create a mule but it is sterile