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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ecology | the study of how organisms interact with other organisms in their environment |
| species | a group of individuals that interbreed and produce fertile offspring |
| population | a member of species that live in the same area at the same time |
| community | all of the populations in a particular area |
| ecosystem | includes all of the living things and their physical environments within a particular area |
| biosphere | includes all parts of earth that host life |
| 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 | a specific environment in which an organism lives in |
| resource | anything an organism needs |
| population size | describes the number of individual organisms present in a given population at a given time |
| population density | describes the number of individuals within a population per unit area |
| population distribution | how organisms are arranged within an area |
| age structure | describes the relative numbers of organisms of each age within a population |
| age structure diagram | visual tools scientist use to show the age structure of a population |
| sex ratio | male to female |
| survivorship curves | shows three basic types |
| immigration | is the arrival from individuals from an outside given area |
| emigration | departure of individuals from a given area |
| migration | is a seasonal movement into and out of any area |
| exponential growth | when a population increases by a fixed percentage |
| 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 population initials increase is slowed and finally stopped by limiting factirs |
| density dependent factor | its influence changes with population density |
| density independent factor | limiting factors whose influence is not affected by population density |
| biotic potential | maximum ability to produce offspring in ideal conditions |