Chapter 8: Populations

Front

What is a population in ecological terms?

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species that live in a specific area and interact with one another.

Front

What causes a population size to increase?

Back

The number of births is greater than the number of deaths.

Front

What is commensalism?

Back

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

Front

What is a parasite?

Back

A parasite is an organism that feeds on a host organism, often causing harm to the host.

Front

What is direct competition?

Back

Direct competition occurs when organisms of the same species fight for the same resources.

Front

What is the difference between a population and a community?

Back

A population consists of individuals of the same species, while a community includes all the different species living in a particular area.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

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

Front

What is the role of predators in a population?

Back

Predators help control the population size of prey species, maintaining ecological balance.

Front

What is the significance of birth and death rates in population dynamics?

Back

Birth and death rates determine the growth or decline of a population over time.

Front

What is competition in ecology?

Back

Competition is the struggle between organisms for the same resources in an ecosystem.