Population Ecology - Key Concepts

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions from the lecture on Population Ecology, helping students to review for their exam.

What is a population in ecology?

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area.

What are the three descriptors of geographic distribution of a species?

Range, population density, and distribution pattern.

What does population density refer to?

The number of individuals per unit area.

What are the two main sampling methods to assess population size?

Transects and quadrats.

How is the Mark-Recapture method used to estimate population size?

It estimates population size (N) by using the ratio of marked individuals captured in the second survey.

What factors influence the geographic distribution of a species?

Both biotic and abiotic factors.

What is generation time in demography?

The average time between a mother’s first offspring and her daughter’s first offspring.

What is a life table?

A summary that shows the probability that an individual will survive and reproduce over time.

What does survivorship mean?

The proportion of offspring that survive to a given age.

What is age-specific fecundity?

The number of female offspring produced by each female in a specific age group.

What is the net reproductive rate (R0)?

The average number of female offspring produced by a female during her lifetime; R0 > 1 indicates growth, R0 < 1 indicates decline.

What does the term 'life history' encompass?

How an organism allocates resources to growth, reproduction, and survival.

What is exponential growth in the context of population ecology?

A growth pattern where the population increases rapidly in a density-independent manner.

What does it mean for a population to grow when r > 0?

The population size is increasing.

What is the key difference between r and R0?

r refers to the per capita growth rate, while R0 refers to the net reproductive rate.