Population Ecology Lectures Review

Flashcards created for reviewing key concepts from the Population Ecology lecture notes in preparation for Exam 2.

What is the primary focus of Chapters 9 to 13 in the upcoming exam?

Population Ecology, covering topics like population distribution, dynamics, growth, life histories, and competition.

What is the definition of a population in ecological terms?

A group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a specific area.

What factors influence population size according to the notes?

Births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.

What are the two types of competition defined in the lecture?

Intraspecific competition (within the same species) and interspecific competition (between different species).

What does the Competitive Exclusion Principle state?

Two species with identical niches cannot coexist indefinitely.

What are the key concepts related to Metapopulations?

Metapopulations consist of populations in patches, with dispersal among patches and local extinctions occurring commonly.

What are the three types of survivorship curves mentioned in the lecture?

Type 1 (high juvenile survival), Type 2 (constant survival), Type 3 (high adult survival).

What is the difference between fundamental niche and realized niche?

The fundamental niche is where a species can survive without biotic interactions; the realized niche is further limited by those interactions.

What conditions lead to exponential population growth?

Conditions with abundant resources where populations grow rapidly.

What is the significance of logistic growth in populations?

It accounts for environmental limitations and density dependencies as population size approaches carrying capacity (K).

What are life history tradeoffs?

Balancing energy allocation between growth, maintenance, and reproduction due to limited resources.

What is 'r selection' in life history strategies?

Traits favored for high growth rates, often seen in unstable environments with high disturbance.

What conditions might lead to local extinction or extirpation?

Loss of a population from a geographic area due to environmental factors or changes.

What type of ecological interaction does Amensalism represent?

One species suffers while the other is unaffected.

What is the role of abiotic factors in influencing population distribution?

Abiotic factors include physical and chemical aspects like temperature and nutrients that impact species survival.

In the context of competition, what is interference competition?

Direct negative interactions between competitors affecting each other's ability to access resources.

What is the central idea behind niche partitioning?

Species may coexist by utilizing different resources or habitats within the same environment.