Biodiversity and Population Ecology Review

Front

What is the most common type of population distribution that occurs due to the principle of safety in numbers and the need to access resources?

Back

Clumped

Front

What hypothesis suggests that ecosystem diversity is important because some ecosystems can continue to function even if others fail?

Back

Insurance hypothesis

Front

What type of biodiversity is represented by the genetic variation within a species?

Back

Genetic diversity

Front

How would you classify wildfire as a limiting factor: density dependent (DD) or density independent (DI)?

Back

Density independent (DI)

Front

What term describes the maximum number of individuals in a population that can be supported by a given ecosystem?

Back

Carrying capacity

Front

What is the term for the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity

Front

What is the difference between density-dependent and density-independent factors in population ecology?

Back

Density-dependent factors are influenced by population size (e.g., competition, predation), while density-independent factors affect populations regardless of size (e.g., natural disasters).

Front

What is the significance of genetic diversity in a population?

Back

Genetic diversity increases a population's ability to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases.

Front

What is the term for the gradual change in species composition in a given area over time?

Back

Ecological succession

Front

What is the role of keystone species in an ecosystem?

Back

Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance, helping to maintain the structure of the ecosystem.