Populations and the Biosphere Flashcards

Flashcards about population characteristics and growth.

Geographic ___ refers to the area occupied by a population.

Distribution

__ is the number of individuals per unit area.

Density

Three factors affecting population size are __, __ and __.

Birth rate, death rate, and the number of individuals entering or leaving a population.

__ growth occurs when reproduction happens at a constant rate. And the populations size becomes larger over time.

Exponential

__ growth happens when population growth slows down.

Logistic

is the largest number of individuals an area can support.

The carrying capacity

____: factors that cause the growth of populations to decrease

Limiting factors

_____: factors that limit the size of a population when the density reaches a certain level

Density-dependent

Factors that affect the size of a population regardless of its density. Ex: Floods and forest fires

Density independent

Factors that have led to increase in human population

1. Increase birth rate

2. Medical improvements

3. Decrease in death rate

___________: resources that can be replenished such as water or trees

Renewable

_____________: resources that can’t be replenished such as fossil fuels

Nonrenewable

A method of using natural resources without depleting them and causing harm to the environment

Substantial development

What human activities have increased erosion?

Plowing and deforestation

Desertification:

When fertile areas turn into desert areas caused by over grazing and drought

_____________ is when nitrogen and sulfur compounds and mixes with rain water

Acid rain

What effect does acid rain have on the environment?

It kills plants and changes the chemical make up of soil

Methods to increase air quality

Control emissions and better emissions test on cars

Biological magnification

When harmful substances increase in organisms in higher trophic levels

The use of this has caused the depletion of the ozone layer

CFC’s