APES Unit 3

Front

What is a k-strategist?

Back

K-strategists are organisms that occupy stable environments, are larger in size, have longer life expectancies, produce fewer offspring, and invest more in each offspring.

Front

What do population pyramids measure?

Back

Population pyramids measure age and gender distribution within a population.

Front

What are density-dependent factors?

Back

Density-dependent factors are factors that affect a population based on its size, including food availability, predation, parasitism, and disease.

Front

What is a limiting factor?

Back

A limiting factor is anything that regulates the size of a population of another organism.

Front

What does carrying capacity refer to?

Back

Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Front

What is an r-strategist?

Back

R-strategists are organisms that produce many offspring but invest little in each, often found in unstable environments.

Front

Define density-independent factors.

Back

Density-independent factors are environmental factors that affect populations regardless of their size, such as natural disasters and climate.

Front

What is the significance of the carrying capacity in population ecology?

Back

The carrying capacity indicates the maximum number of individuals that an environment can support, influencing population growth and stability.

Front

Explain the concept of ecological succession.

Back

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, leading to a more stable community.

Front

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Back

Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but soil remains.