click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Chapter 4 Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ecology | The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environments |
| Species | A group of individuals that interbreed and produce fertile offspring |
| Population | Members of a species that live in the same area at the same time |
| Community | All of the populations in a particular area |
| Ecosystem | Includes all living things and their physical environments within a particular area |
| Biosphere | Includes all parts on Earth that host life, with all of its organisms and environments |
| Biotic Factors | Parts of an ecosystem that are living or used to be living |
| Abiotic Factors | Parts of an ecosystem that have never been living |
| Habitat | The specific environment in which an organism lives |
| Resource | Anything an organism needs, including nutrients, shelter, breeding sights, and mates |
| Population Size | Describes the number of individual organisms present in a given population at the time |
| Population Density | Describes the number of individuals within a population per unit area |
| Population Distributation | Describes how organisms are arranged within an area |
| Age Structure | Describes the relative numbers of organisms of each age within a population |
| Age Structure Diagrams | Visual tools scientists use to to show the age structure of populations |
| Sex Ratio | A portion of males to females |
| Survivorship Curves | Graphs to show the likelihood of death varies with age |
| Immigration | The arrival of individuals from outside a given area |
| Emigration | The departure of individuals from a given area |
| Migration | A seasonal movement into and out a certain area |
| Exponential Growth | When the population increases by a fixed percentage each year |
| Limiting Factors | Characteristics of the environment that limit population growth |
| Carrying Capacity | The largest population size given environment can sustainably support |
| Logistic Growth | Describes how a populations initial exponential increase is slowed and stopped by limiting factors |
| Density-Dependent Factor | Competition for resources such as water and food |
| Density-Independent Factor | Limiting factors who's influence is not affected by population density |
| Biotic Potential | Maximum ability to produce offspring in ideal conditions |