Population Week 1

Question 1

Population growth rate

Answer 1

The number of offspring an individual can produce in a given time period, minus the deaths of the individual or its offspring during the same period. Also known as intrinsic growth rate

Question 2

Biotic potential

Answer 2

Under ideal conditions with unlimited resources available, every population has a maximum potential for growth

Question 3

K-selected species

Answer 3

A species with a low intrinsic growth rate that causes the population to increase slowly until it reaches the carrying capacity for the environment

Question 4

Carrying capacity

Answer 4

The limit to the number of individuals that can be supported by an existing habitat or ecosystem and is denoted as K

Question 5

r-selected species

Answer 5

A species that has a high intrinsic growth rate, and their population typically increases rapidly

Question 6

Overshoot

Answer 6

When a population becomes larger than the environment’s carrying capacity

Question 7

Dieback

Answer 7

A rapid decline in a population due to death. Also known as die-off

Question 8

Density-dependent factor

Answer 8

A factor that influences an individual’s probability of survival and reproduction in a manner that depends on the size of the population

Question 9

Density-independent factor

Answer 9

A factor that has the same effect on an individual’s probability of survival and reproduction at any population size

Question 10

Fecundity

Answer 10

The ability to produce an abundance of offspring

Question 11

Exponential growth model

Answer 11

A growth model that estimate a population’s future sixe after a period of time based on the biotic potential and the number of reproducing individuals currently in the population

Question 12

J-shaped curve

Answer 12

The curve of the exponential growth model when graphed

Question 13

Logistic growth model

Answer 13

A growth model that describes a population whose growth is initially exponential, but slows as the population approaches and carrying capacity of the environment

Question 14

S-shaped curve

Answer 14

The shape of the logistic growth model when graphed

Question 15

Limiting resource

Answer 15

A resource that a population cannot live without that occurs in quantities lower than the population would required to increase in size

Question 16

Type II survivorship curve

Answer 16

A pattern of survival over time in which there is a relatively constant decline in survivorship throughout most of the life span.

Question 17

Type III survivorship curve

Answer 17

A pattern of survival over time in which there is low survivorship (a high death rate) early in life with few individuals reaching adulthood.

Question 18

Type I survivorship curve

Answer 18

A pattern of survival over time in which there is high survival throughout most of the life span, but then individuals start to die in large numbers as they approach old age.