2.2 - Populations in Ecosystems

Population Density

The number of organisms per unit of area

Population Distribution

The arrangement of a population in its environment.

Uniform Distribution

An even distribution of individuals within an area

Clumped Distribution

A distribution of individuals into groups

Random Distribution

A distribution with no pattern

Limiting Factor

An environmental resource that limits the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population

Density-Dependent Limiting Factor

An environmental factor that affects a population because of the number of individuals per unit area ex. predation, disease, competition

Density-Independent Limiting Factor

An environmental factor that affects a population regardless of it's density ex. storms, temperature

Population Growth Rate

How fast a specific population grows

Emigration

The movement of individuals away from an area

Immigration

The movement of individuals into an area

Birth Rate

The number of individuals born per thousand of population per year

Death Rate

The number of deaths per thousand of population per year

Exponential Growth

Growth of a population in an ideal, unlimited environment

Logistic Growth

Population growth that levels off as population size approaches the carrying capacity of the environment

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources in the environment; represented as K

Population

A group of organisms of the same species that occupy the same geographic place at the same time

habitat

where an organism lives

Niche