species and survivorship

What are the two main types of factors that contribute to a species' abundance?

Biotic and abiotic factors

What are niche generalists?

Species with a wide range of biotic and abiotic conditions and a broad distribution, adaptable to changing food conditions.

What are niche specialists?

Species with a narrow range of biotic and abiotic conditions and a narrow distribution, vulnerable to extinction.

How is the success of a species typically defined?

By the population size of the species, which increases through reproduction.

What is the population growth rate?

The number of offspring produced within a given time period minus deaths.

What does biotic potential refer to?

The maximum potential for growth of a species.

What characterizes K-selected species?

Longer lived, provide intensive parental care, low growth rates, and stable populations close to carrying capacity.

What characterizes r-selected species?

Shorter lived, provide little to no parental care, high growth rates, and populations that can overshoot carrying capacity.

What is overshoot and dieback?

The process of a population increasing rapidly and then experiencing a rapid decline.

What are survivorship curves?

Graphs showing the likelihood of survival at any given time within an organism's lifetime.

Describe Type 1 survivorship curves.

High survival throughout most of the lifespan, with large die-offs as individuals approach old age.

Describe Type 2 survivorship curves.

Relatively constant decline in survivorship throughout the entire lifespan.

Describe Type 3 survivorship curves.

Low survivorship early in life, with surviving individuals living for a relatively long time.

What is carrying capacity?

The maximum number of individuals that can be supported by the environment.

What happens during die-back in a population?

The population oscillates above and below the carrying capacity until reaching a stable equilibrium.

What are density-dependent factors?

Factors that influence an individual's probability of survival and reproduction depending on the size of the population.

What are density-independent factors?

Factors that influence an individual's probability of survival and reproduction regardless of the population size.

What does the logistic growth model describe?

Population growth that starts exponentially but slows down as it approaches carrying capacity, resulting in an S-shaped curve.

What is a limiting resource?

A resource that a population cannot live without, occurring in quantities slower than the population requires to increase in size.

How can overpopulation affect ecosystems?

It can deplete resources, cause die-back, lead to overgrazing, food shortages, increased competition, or disease.

What can overpopulation in humans lead to?

Famine, conflict, and the spread of infectious diseases.

How can predators influence carrying capacity?

Predator populations can increase when prey populations decrease, thus defining the carrying capacity.