Ecology Key Terms Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are Limiting Factors?

  • Both biotic and abiotic factors that control the number, distribution, or reproduction of a population (correct)
  • Abiotic factors that control population
  • Biotic factors that control population
  • Factors that do not affect population

What is Density Dependent?

An environmental factor such as predation, disease, and competition that depends on the number of members in a population per unit area.

What is Density Independent?

An environmental factor such as storms or extreme hot or cold that affects population regardless of their density.

What is Disease in ecological terms?

<p>A density dependent factor in which the body is not functioning normally.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a short food supply lead to?

<p>It leads to many organisms fighting over it, a density dependent factor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is predation?

<p>A density dependent factor in which one organism kills another for food.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is habitat disruption?

<p>A density independent factor where an animal's living space has been disturbed or destroyed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Invasive Species?

<p>Density dependent non-native species that move into an environment and take away resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is competition in ecology?

<p>A density dependent factor in which organisms must fight for resources such as food, water, and shelter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is carrying capacity?

<p>The largest number of individuals of a population that an environment can support.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is exponential growth?

<p>Type of growth that is extremely rapid and occurs when there are no limiting factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is logistic growth?

<p>A type of growth in which a population experiences rapid growth then settles around carrying capacity due to limiting factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a population?

<p>A group of the same species that live in the same area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecosystem?

<p>All the living and nonliving things in an area that interact.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are abiotic factors?

<p>Nonliving parts of an ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are biotic factors?

<p>Living parts of an ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is population density?

<p>The number of individuals in an area of a specific size.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Limiting Factors

Factors that limit population growth by controlling resource availability or environmental conditions.

Density Dependent Factors

Factors that influence population growth based on the density of individuals, such as competition for resources or disease spread.

Density Independent Factors

Factors that affect population regardless of density, such as extreme weather events or habitat disruptions.

Invasive Species

A non-native species that outcompetes native species for resources, altering the ecosystem's balance.

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Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support, determined by available resources and limiting factors.

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Exponential Growth

A pattern of population growth characterized by rapid increases due to unlimited resources and no constraints.

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Logistic Growth

A pattern of population growth that initially increases rapidly but then levels off as it approaches the carrying capacity.

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Population

A group of organisms of the same species inhabiting a specific geographic area.

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Ecosystem

A complex community of interacting living organisms and their physical environment, encompassing all biotic and abiotic factors.

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Abiotic Factors

Non-living components of an environment that affect living organisms, such as temperature, water availability, or soil composition.

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Biotic Factors

Living components of an environment that interact with each other, such as plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.

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Population Density

The number of individuals of a species per unit area, a measure of how densely a population occupies its habitat.

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Disease

The spread of disease within a population, often exacerbated by high density.

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Food Supply

The scarcity of food resources, leading to increased competition among individuals.

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Predation

One organism hunting and consuming another, influencing population size based on prey density.

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Competition

Organisms vying for essential resources such as food, water, or shelter.

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Habitat Disruption

Natural or human-induced changes that disrupt habitats, forcing species to relocate or face decline.

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Study Notes

Limiting Factors

  • Control population dynamics through biotic (living) or abiotic (non-living) elements.
  • Essential for understanding community structure and species distribution.

Density Dependent Factors

  • Influence populations based on density, such as prey availability, disease prevalence, and competition intensity.
  • Key examples include:
    • Disease: Alters normal bodily functions, often exacerbated by high population density.
    • Food Supply: Scarcity leads to increased competition among organisms.
    • Predation: One organism hunting another influences population size based on prey density.
    • Competition: Organisms vie for essential resources like food, water, and shelter.

Density Independent Factors

  • Impact populations without regard to their density.
  • Examples include:
    • Habitat Disruption: Natural or human-induced changes force species to relocate.
    • Extreme Weather Events: Storms, heatwaves, or cold snaps can decimate populations irrespective of size.

Invasive Species

  • Non-native organisms that disrupt established ecosystems by outcompeting native species for resources.

Carrying Capacity

  • Represents the maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support, impacted by limiting factors.

Population Growth Patterns

  • Exponential Growth: Characterized by rapid increases when resources are unlimited and no restraints exist.
  • Logistic Growth: Follows a rapid initial growth phase, then stabilizes around the carrying capacity influenced by limiting factors.

Population and Ecosystem Concepts

  • Population: Defined as a group of the same species inhabiting a specific area.
  • Ecosystem: Comprises all living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components in an area, interacting in complex ways.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

  • Abiotic Factors: Include elements like temperature, water, and minerals that shape the environment.
  • Biotic Factors: Consist of all living organisms that interact within an ecosystem.

Population Density

  • Refers to the number of individuals within a defined area, often used to assess habitat health and species viability.

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