AP Biology Ecology Unit

Territoriality

________: available space for territories or nesting may be limited, thus controlling the population.

Microclimate

________: determined by fine- scale variations such as sunlight and temperature differences under a log compared with the surrounding forest floor.

Ecological Footprint

________: refers to the total land and water area needed for all the resources a person consumes in a population.

carbon dioxide

Increasing ________ and other greenhouse gas concentrations are warming Earth, wind and precipitation patterns are shifting, and extreme weather events are occurring more frequently.

Uniform

________: evenly spaced dispersion is often the result of antagonistic interactions.

Life history traits

________ are evolutionary outcomes not conscious decisions by organisms.

Ecology

________: the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment.

Demographic Transition

________: occurs when a population goes from high birth rates and death rates to low birth rates and low death rates.

II Survivorship Curve

Type ________: shows a constant death rate over the organisms life span.

III Survivorship Curve

Type ________: shows very high early death rates, then a flat rate for the few surviving until reaching the older age groups.

abiotic factors

Both biotic and ________ influence the reproductive fitness of individuals in a population and are major forces of natural selection.

Climate

________: the long- term prevailing weather conditions in a given area.

Density

________: the number of individuals per unit area or volume, increases by births or immigration and decreases by deaths or emigration.

Density dependent factors

________ regulate population size by negative feedback.

Predation

________: as prey populations increase, predators may find the prey more easily.

Random

________: shows unpredictable spacing, occurs in the absence of strong attractions or repulsions among individuals or where resources are relatively constant across an area.

Demography

________: the study of vital statistics of a population, especially birth, death, and migration rates.

essential nutrients

Competition for Resources: as population density increases, competition for resources intensifies (can include competition for food, space, or ________)

Macroclimate

________: work at the global, regional, or local level.

Traits

________ that affect an organisms schedule of reproduction and survival make up its life history.

Dispersion

________: the pattern of spacing among individuals with the boundaries of the population.

Biomes

________: are the major types of ecosystems that occupy very broad geographic regions.

high rates of reproduction

There are trade offs between ________ and percentages of surviving offspring.

Age Structure Pyramids

________: show the relative number of individuals of each age in a population and can be used to predict and explain many demographic patterns.

Disease

________: increasing densities allow for easier transmission of diseases.

Species distributions

________ are a consequence of both ecological factors and evolutionary history.

K Selection

________: Selection of life history traits that are sensitive to population density and carrying capacity.

maximum population

Carrying Capacity: a population defined as the ________ size that a certain environment can support at a particular time with no degradation of the habitat.

Abiotic Factors

________: the nonliving, chemical, and physical components.

Ecology

the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment

Climate

the long-term prevailing weather conditions in a given area

Macroclimate

work at the global, regional, or local level

Microclimate

determined by fine-scale variations such as sunlight and temperature differences under a log compared with the surrounding forest floor

Climate Change

a directional change to the global climate that lasts three decades or more (as opposed to short-term changes in the weather)

Biomes

are the major types of ecosystems that occupy very broad geographic regions

Biotic Factors

include interactions with other species through predation and herbivory, parasites, pathogens, and competing organisms

Abiotic Factors

the nonliving, chemical, and physical components

Population

a group of individuals of a single species living in the same general area

Population Ecology

explores how biotic and abiotic factors influence the density, distribution, size, and age structure of populations

Density

the number of individuals per unit area or volume, increases by births or immigration and decreases by deaths or emigration

Dispersion

the pattern of spacing among individuals with the boundaries of the population

Clumped

individuals in patches, usually around a required resource

Uniform

evenly spaced dispersion is often the result of antagonistic interactions

Random

shows unpredictable spacing, occurs in the absence of strong attractions or repulsions among individuals or where resources are relatively constant across an area

Demography

the study of vital statistics of a population, especially birth, death, and migration rates

Type I Survivorship Curve

shows low death rates during early life and midlife; then the death rate increases sharply in older age groups

Type II Survivorship Curve

shows a constant death rate over the organisms life span

Type III Survivorship Curve

shows very high early death rates, then a flat rate for the few surviving until reaching the older age groups

Exponential Population

growth refers to population growth under ideal conditions

Carrying Capacity

a population defined as the maximum population size that a certain environment can support at a particular time with no degradation of the habitat

Logistic Growth Model

the per-capita rate of increase declines as carrying capacity is reached

Construct the logistic model by starting with the exponential model and adding an expression that reduces the per-capita rate of increase as N approaches K

dN/dt = rmaxN(K-N)/K

K-Selection

Selection of life history traits that are sensitive to population density and carrying capacity

R-Selection

selection for traits that maximize reproductive success in uncrowded environments

Density Independent

When the death rate does not change with an increase in population density

Competition for Resources

as population density increases, competition for resources intensifies (can include competition for food, space, or essential nutrients)

Territoriality

available space for territories or nesting may be limited, thus controlling the population

Disease

increasing densities allow for easier transmission of diseases

Predation

as prey populations increase, predators may find the prey more easily

Demographic Transition

occurs when a population goes from high birth rates and death rates to low birth rates and low death rates

Age Structure Pyramids

show the relative number of individuals of each age in a population and can be used to predict and explain many demographic patterns

Ecological Footprint

refers to the total land and water area needed for all the resources a person consumes in a population

Chapter 54

Community Ecology