Population Ecology Review

Front

What is an r-strategist?

Back

An r-strategist is a species that produces many offspring, has a high growth rate, and typically invests little parental care. They thrive in unstable environments.

Front

What is a K-strategist?

Back

A K-strategist is a species that grows slowly, cares for its young over a long period, and usually exists near the carrying capacity of its ecosystem.

Front

Define 'keystone species'.

Back

A keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, influencing the survival of many other species.

Front

What does 'threatened' mean in terms of species conservation?

Back

A threatened species is one that is likely to become endangered in the near future.

Front

What is a specialist species?

Back

A specialist species is one that has a very narrow ecological niche and often relies on specific resources for survival.

Front

What is a generalist species?

Back

A generalist species is one that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can utilize a variety of resources.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

What is ecological succession?

Back

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability, allowing ecosystems to better withstand environmental changes.