populations

how can populations be described?

changes in size as time passes, rate at which population size changes, what factors determine the relative number of individuals, boundaries

what does a uniform distribution mean?

regular pattern, occurs when there is competition for a limiting resource

biotic potential

highest possible per capita growth rate for a population, given unlimited resources and ideal living conditions

high biotic potential

species can increase population rapidly

low biotic potential

species increase population slowly

factors that determine biotic potential

number of offpsring per reproductive cycle, # of offspring that live long enough to reproduce, age of reproductive maturity, how many times reproduction happens in a life, life span

when does the carrying capacity change

if habitat changes

describe as s curve

initial lag, exponential growth, stables off as it reaches carrying capacity

when is a population at equilibrium considered stable?

when the population returns to K after disturbances

density dependent factors

biotic factors limiting carrying capacity, impact increases with density of a population

density independent factors

abiotic factors limiting pop growth, limit pop growth regardless of population size

environmental resistence

combined effects of various limiting factors that prevents the growth of a population. biotic or abiotic

life strategies

adaptations that allow a population to exist close to its carrying capacity without crashing

ecological community

association of interacting populations that inhabit a defined area

predator prey peaks

prey is higher rises first then the predator peaks

coevolution

when one species evolves to become the better predator and they other evolves to avoid predation

commensalism

when one partner benefits and the other is neutral