BI111: Biological Diversity and Evolution Lecture Review

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering essential vocabulary and concepts from the BI111 lecture on Biological Diversity and Evolution.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environments.

Demography

The statistical study of processes that change a population's size and density through time.

Mark-Recapture Methodology

A method used to estimate population size by capturing, marking, and releasing individuals, and then recapturing to estimate total population.

Geographic Range

The overall spatial boundaries within which a population lives.

Population Density

The number of individuals per unit area, often expressed as individuals per square kilometer.

Exponential Growth Model

A model describing unlimited population growth under ideal conditions, typically following a J-shaped curve.

Logistic Growth Model

A population growth model that describes how population growth slows as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment.

Density-Dependent Factors

Factors that affect population growth based on population size, such as resource availability and competition.

Life History Traits

Characteristics that influence an organism's schedule of reproduction and survival, including age at first reproduction and number of offspring.

r-Selected Species

Species that produce many offspring, each with a relatively low chance of survival.

K-Selected Species

Species that produce fewer offspring but invest more resources in their survival.

Survivorship Curves

Graphs that illustrate the number of individuals surviving at each age, typically categorized into Type I, II, and III.

Fecundity

The reproductive capacity of an individual, often measured as the number of offspring produced.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain.

Predation Pressure

The impact of predators on the population dynamics of prey species, influencing their life history traits.

Age Structure Diagrams

Visual representations of the age distribution of a population, showing the proportions of different age groups.