Biology - ch 44 population ecology

Population

All the individuals in a species within a particular space at a particular time

Habitat

Place where an organism lives

Community

All populations of multiple species in a defined area (living) (biotic)

Ecosystem

All populations plus nonliving components. Community interacting with the environment.

Biosphere

The whole earth, soil, water, air, where all organisms are found

Ecology

Considers how organisms interact and the nonliving environment

Demographics of population

Study of the statistics of a population

Population size

Number of individuals (that contribute to the gene pool)

Population density

Number of individuals per unit area

Population distribution

Pattern of dispersal

1. Clumped

2. Random

3. Uniform

Resources

Living in nonliving

Limiting factors

Environmental aspects (where they can live), includes oxygen light space temp (abiotic) food sources (biotic)

Population growth

Rate of natural increase.

Number born per year/number that die per year. Immigration (enter) or emigration (leave).

Biotic potential

Highest rate of natural increase; happens when resources are unlimited

biotic potential impacts

• Number of offspring per reproductive event

• Chance that offspring survived to reproductive age

• How often/how many reproductive events in a timeframe?

• At which reproduction can happen

• Disease and predators