APES Unit 3 Summary

R-selected species

Species that mature quickly, are usually smaller, provide little to no parental care, and have many offspring at a time (e.g., fish, frogs).

K-selected species

Species that are larger, mature slowly, provide high levels of parental care, and have a few offspring at a time (e.g., elephants, humans).

Biotic potential

The maximum reproduction rate of an organism in optimal conditions.

Limiting resources

Resources like food, water, and land that restrict the number of organisms that can survive in a given environment.

Carrying capacity

The maximum number of organisms that an ecosystem can sustain.

Density-dependent limiting factors

Factors such as disease, food availability, and land that impact populations based on their density.

Density-independent limiting factors

Factors like natural disasters and habitat loss that affect populations regardless of their density.

Age structure diagrams

Graphs that represent the number of individuals in different age groups within a population.

Percent Growth Rate equation

Formula to calculate the percentage growth rate, (Crude Birth Rate - Crude Death Rate) multiplied by 10.