Population Lecture

Flashcards about population ecology, covering definitions, growth factors, carrying capacity, and human impact.

What defines a population?

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same time and place.

What factors lead to population growth?

Births and immigration.

What factors lead to population decline?

Deaths and emigration.

How is population growth rate (r) calculated?

r = (birth rate + immigration rate) - (death rate + emigration rate)

What is the intrinsic rate of growth also known as?

Biotic potential.

What type of growth does biotic potential result in?

Exponential growth, represented by a J-shaped curve.

What is environmental resistance?

Factors that limit population growth, such as limited resources or increased predation.

Define carrying capacity (K).

The maximum number of individuals an environment can support without degrading resources.

What is a more realistic population growth curve than a J-curve?

An S-curve which accounts for carrying capacity

What happens if a population overshoots K?

Resource overuse, potentially leading to a population crash.

Define density-dependent factors.

Factors that affect population size based on population density (e.g., disease, competition).

Define density-independent factors.

Factors that affect population size regardless of population density (e.g., natural disasters).

Describe Malthus's theory on population growth.

Population growth is exponential, while resource growth is linear, leading to a potential catastrophe.

What is Neo-Malthusianism?

A modern perspective that incorporates environmental and ecological factors in population studies.

What are r-selected species?

Species with high reproductive rates, early maturity, and little parental care.

What are K-selected species?

Species with low reproductive rates, late maturity, and high parental care.

Give examples of boom and bust cycles.

Lynx and snowshoe hare populations, lemming populations.

What are the three types of survivorship curves?

Type I (late loss), Type II (constant loss), and Type III (early loss).

What factors contributed to the rapid increase in human population?

Agricultural revolution, medical advancements, and expansion into diverse habitats.

Define demography.

The study of population growth and structure, including age distribution.

What is the demographic transition?

Shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.

Describe the IPAT equation.

Impact (I) = Population (P) x Affluence (A) x Technology (T); a model for environmental impact.

What were the different approaches to managing population growth in China, Mexico, and India?

China: One-child policy (later abolished). Mexico: Education and contraception. India: Similar to Mexico, but less successful.