NCSU Bio181 Ecology Terms, Exam Questions and answers, VERIFIED.

NCSU Bio181 Ecology Terms, Exam Questions and answers, VERIFIED. Ecology - -The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment. Population Ecology - -The study of populations in relation to the environment and environmental influences. Community Ecology - -The study of interacting populations of the same and different species. Ecosystem - -A system of multiple communities and their chemical and physical environments. Biotic Components - -Living parts, such as plants, animals, and bacteria. Abiotic Components - -Unliving parts, such as air, soil, water, and sun. Population - -A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area Range - -Area of a population, typically small, changes through time Density - -The number of individuals per area Spacing Pattern - -Dispersion of individuals Growth - -Change in size over time Metapopulations - -Occur in areas where suitable habitat is separated by stretches of unsuitable habitats, such as islands separated by the ocean. Dispersal - -Populations increase and send out dispersers to increase range. Small populations may not have many dispersers and could go extinct. Biotic Potential - -Fastest possible reproductive rate for a population under ideal conditions. Results in exponential growth Exponential Growth Model (j curve) - -Applies to populations with no growth limits r=(b-d)+(i-e) Density Dependent Limiting Factors - -Effect is based on population size, such as resource competition, predation, parasitism, disease. Intraspecific Competition - -Competition between members of the same species Interspecific Competition - -Competition between members of different species Density Independent Limiting Factors - -Factors unrelated to population size, such as droughts, freezes, fires, pollution, habitat loss. Carrying Capacity (k) - -The maximum number of individuals that a population can support. Determined by limiting factors. Logistic Growth Model (s curve) - -Applies to a population as it reaches its carrying capacity. Life History Traits - -Traits that maximize the number of surviving offspring. Life History Strategies - -Based on a species reproductive traits and the carrying capacity of the environment. Demography - -Quantitative study of populations, how size changes through time. Cohort - -Group of individuals of the same age or age range. Generation Time - -The average time between an individual's birth and the birth of its offspring. Life Table - -Provide a summary of the probability of an individual's reproduction in a given year. Fecundity - -The number of offspring per female Survivorship - -The percentage of an original population that survives to a given age. Type I Survivorship Curve - -Few young, high survivorship of young, live most of life expectancy, optimize survival and reproduce later. Type II Survivorship Curve - -Relatively constant death rate through life time Type III Survivorship Curve - -Many young, low survivorship of babies, optimize reproduction, low parental investment, few live most of life expectancy. Interference Competition - -Individuals interact directly with one another by physical force or intimidation. Exploitative Competition - -Organisms Compete indirectly through consumption of a shared and limited resource.