Population Dynamics

Property

________ or capacity of populations to multiply; maximum reproductive rate of an organism.

Dispersal

________ can either increase or decrease local population densities.

Favorable environmental conditions

________ enable species to realize their full biotic potential → leads to population increase.

ecology

Area in population ________ concerned with factors influencing the expansion, decline, or maintenance of populations.

Includes the effects of

births, deaths, immigration, and emigration

Ex

Spiderlings → produce silk and hang on to the tips of leaves, waiting for wind to take them to other places (they balloon themselves to occupy new environments)

Limiting factors (ex

raw materials, energy supply and accumulation of waste products)

Population

A group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a specific area at the same time

Population Dynamics

Area in population ecology concerned with factors influencing the expansion, decline, or maintenance of populations

DEMOGRAPHY

Describes changes in population throughout the life cycle of the organism

Biotic Potential

Property or capacity of populations to multiply; maximum reproductive rate of an organism

Exponential Growth Model

Represents growth of a population without environmental resistance factors

Logistic Growth Model

Shows that when resources are diminished, population growth rate will ultimately plateau

Carrying Capacity

The total number of individuals the environment can support

Density-dependent factors

Biotic factors, such as diseases and predation, that limit population growth

Density-independent factors

Abiotic factors, such as temperature and weather, that also influence population growth