Population Ecology

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What is logistic growth in population ecology?

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Logistic growth is a model of population growth that starts exponentially but slows as the population approaches its carrying capacity, resulting in an S-shaped curve.

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What is carrying capacity?

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Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support sustainably.

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What is predation?

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Predation is a biological interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey).

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What is commensalism?

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Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

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What is the difference between exponential growth and logistic growth?

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Exponential growth occurs when resources are unlimited, leading to a rapid increase in population size, while logistic growth occurs when resources are limited, leading to a stabilization of population size at carrying capacity.

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What does it mean if a population is at its carrying capacity?

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If a population is at its carrying capacity, it means that the population size is stable and the birth rate equals the death rate, with no net increase.

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What is a clumped distribution pattern?

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A clumped distribution pattern occurs when individuals are grouped together in patches, often due to uneven distribution of resources.

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What is the significance of limiting factors in population ecology?

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Limiting factors are environmental conditions that restrict population growth, such as food availability, predation, disease, and habitat space.

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What is mutualism?

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Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from the interaction.

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What is the difference between competition and predation?

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Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources, while predation involves one organism hunting and consuming another.