Applied Ecology ~ Population Dynamics 2

What is population density?

The number of individuals per unit area.

What is relative density (relative abundance)?

A comparison of population sizes across locations or times.

What is area-based sampling?

Estimating density using quadrats or other sampled areas.

What is ecological density?

The number of individuals per unit of available living space.

What is distance sampling?

Estimating populations using distances from transects or points.

What is a detection function?

A correction for decreasing probability of detecting organisms farther away.

What is mark-recapture?

A method of estimating population size by capturing, marking, and recapturing individuals.

What is the Lincoln-Peterson Index?

A common mark-recapture population estimator.

What is the Lincoln-Peterson formula?

N= n⋅C/R

What does N represent in the Lincoln-Peterson formula?

Estimated population size.

What does n represent in the Lincoln-Peterson formula?

Number marked in the first sample.

What does C represent in the Lincoln-Peterson formula?

Number captured in the second sample.

What does R represent in the Lincoln-Peterson formula?

Number of marked individuals recaptured.

What is population growth rate (dN/dt)?

The rate of change in population size over time.

What is linear growth?

Population growth that increases by a constant amount over time.

What is exponential growth?

Growth where the per-capita rate stays constant.

What is logistic growth?

Growth that slows as carrying capacity is approached.

What is intrinsic population growth rate (r)?

Birth rate minus death rate in a closed population.

What is biotic potential?

The maximum reproductive capacity of a population.

What is carrying capacity (K)?

The maximum population size an environment can sustain.

What is the inflection point (K/2)?

The point where population growth is greatest.

What is demographic stochasticity?

Random variation in births and deaths.

What is environmental stochasticity?

Random environmental changes affecting birth and death rates.

What is density-dependent regulation?

Population regulation that changes with population density.

What is density-independent regulation?

Population regulation unrelated to population density.

What is density-dependent mortality?

Increased death rates as population density rises.

What is density-dependent fecundity?

Reduced birth rates as population density rises.

What is competition?

Use of a common limiting resource by multiple individuals.

What is intraspecific competition?

Competition among members of the same species.

What is scramble competition?

All individuals suffer similar reductions in growth and reproduction.

What is contest competition?

Some individuals obtain resources while others do not.

What is exploitation competition?

Competition without direct interaction.

What is interference competition?

Direct competition for resources.

What is a home range?

The area used by an animal during a year.

What is a territory?

A defended area within a home range.

What is territoriality?

Behavior used to defend a territory from others.

What is the Allee Effect?

Reduced survival and reproduction at very low population densities.