8.3: Population Ecology

What is a population?

a composition of organisms of the same species in a particular area

What does the size of a population largely depend on?

resource availability

How does food availability affect reproduction and survival rates?

When less food is available, population size, reproduction rates, and offspring survivability decreases.

When food is readily available, population size, reproduction rates, and survival rates increase.

What are some adaptations that aid in survival when energy availability decreases?

1) fat storage during the winter

2) losing/growing leaves when the length of the day changes

What are some(4) factors that affect population growth?

1) age at reproductive maturity

2) number of offspring produced

3) frequency of reproduction

4) survivorship of offspring to reproductive maturity

If the birth rate is greater than the death rate what will the population do?

increase

If the birth rate is less than the death rate what will the population do?

decrease

What conditions lead to exponential growth?

ideal conditions with abundant resources

What would a graph of the population size in a population experiencing exponential growth look like?

a J-shaped curve

What would a graph of the population size in a population experiencing logistic growth look like?

a S-shaped curve