Question | Answer |
population | individuals of the same species in the same general area |
density | how concentrated an area is populated |
dispersion | spacing of the population |
mark-recapture method | tag and release study |
clumped | individuals aggregated in patches |
grain | spacial variation of individual organisms |
uniform | evenly spaced population |
random | unpredictable pattern |
biogeography | the study of the distribution of species |
demography | study of vital statistics that affect population size |
age structure | relative number of individuals in each stage |
birthrate/fecundity | the number of offspring produced in a certain amount of time |
death rate | the number of offspring that die in a certain amount of time; highest in first year and old age |
generation time | average span between birth of individuals and birth of their offspring |
sex ratio | proportion of individuals in each sex |
life tables | life expectancy |
cohort | group of individuals of the same age |
survivorship curve | plot of members of a cohort and what ages they are alive at |
semelparity | live to grow, reproduce and die |
iteroparity | live longer by investing in smaller groups of offspring |
zero population growth (ZPG) | birth rates = growth rates |
intrinsic rate of increase | maximum population growth rate |
carrying capacity | maximum support an area can provide for a population |
logistic population growth | density from maximum population to zero as carrying capacity is reached |
K-selected population/equilibrium population | density limit imposed by resources |
r-selected population/opportunistic population | population density fluctuates |
intraspecific competition | individuals of the same species rely on limited resources |
density dependent factor | intensifies as the population increases in size |
density independent factors | unrelated to population size |