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bio 2
chapter 55
36
Biology
Undergraduate 2
04/08/2009

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Term
Define ecology
Definition
study of how organisms relate to one another and to their environments
Term
Define abiotic
Definition
non-living elements of the environment
Term
List 4 or more abiotic factors which are key in the environment.
Definition
-Temperature
-Water
-Sunlight
-Soil
-Wind
-pH
Term
What is a conformer?
Definition
conform to the environment in which they live, their bodies adopting the temperature, salinity and other aspects of their surroundings
Term
Define endotherm.
Definition
maintain constant internal temperature
Term
List 2 or more morphological and behavioral changes endothermic animals may do to regulate their internal temperature.
Definition
Thick coats during winter (wolf’s fur 3x thick in winter)
Alter fat levels
Term
Define population
Definition
groups of individuals of the same species in one place
Term
Define population range
Definition
area throughout which a population occurs
Term
Briefly describe the 3 patterns of spacing within populations.
Definition
Random spacing = individuals do not interact strongly with one another; not common in nature
Uniform spacing = behavioral interactions, resource competition
Clumped spacing = uneven distribution of resources; common in nature
Term
Define metapopulation.
Definition
collection of spatially divided subpopulations connected by gene flow
Term
List two reasons why metapopulations may be at an advantage over a single population.
Definition
Term
Define demography
Definition
the quantitative study of populations
Term
Define generation time
Definition
average interval between birth of an individual and birth of its offspring
Term
Define life span
Definition
correlated with generation time. Short generation time equals fast population growth rate, short life span
Term
Define age structure
Definition
determined by the numbers of individuals in a different age group
Term
Define cohort
Definition
group of individuals of the same age
Term
Define fecundity
Definition
number of offspring produced in a standard time
Term
Define mortality
Definition
death rate
Term
Define survivorship
Definition
percent of an original population that survives to a given age
Term
What is a survivorship curve?
Definition
expresses some aspects of age distribution
Term
Define life history.
Definition
complete life cycle of an organism
Term
What is exponential growth (J-shaped population growth curve)
Definition
applies to populations with no growth limits
Term
What is logistic growth (S-shaped population growt curve)?
Definition
applies to populations as they reach K
Term
Define carrying capacity
Definition
symbolized by K, is the maximum number of individuals that the environment can support
Term
List 2 or more things that may create a carrying capacity.
Definition
Term
What are density-dependent effects?
Definition
factors that affect the population and depend on population size
Term
What are density-independent effects?
Definition
the rate of growth of a population at any instant is limited by something unrelated to the size of the population
Term
Give an example of negative-feedback when population size increases
Definition
reproductive rates decline mortality rates increase or both
Term
What is the Alee affect?
Definition
Term
Define K-selected population
Definition
adapted to thrive when population is near its carrying capacity
Term
Is the human population following an exponential or logistic growth curve?
Definition
Term
Is the human population a K-selected or r-selected population?
Definition
Term
What is a population pyramid?
Definition
a bar graph displaying the number of people in each age category
Term
What is an ecological footprint?
Definition
amount of productive land required to support an individual at the standard of living of a particular population through the course of his/her life
Term
What is homeostasis?
Definition
a steady-state internal environment regardless of external environment
Term
Define r-selected population
Definition
selection favors individuals with the highest reproductive rates
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