Population & Community Ecology Review

Front

What is population density?

Back

Population density is the number of individuals living in a defined space divided by the area of that space.

Front

What does carrying capacity refer to?

Back

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

Front

What is a density-dependent limiting factor?

Back

A density-dependent limiting factor is a factor that affects population growth in relation to the population density, such as competition for resources.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.

Front

How do you calculate population density?

Back

Population density = Number of individuals / Area of the space.

Front

What is the significance of carrying capacity in ecology?

Back

Carrying capacity helps determine the sustainable population size for a species in a given environment.

Front

Give an example of a density-independent limiting factor.

Back

Examples include natural disasters, unusual weather, and human activities.

Front

What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

Back

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it can lead to resource depletion, increased competition, and population decline.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Back

Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem, while abiotic factors are non-living physical and chemical elements.

Front

What role does competition play in population dynamics?

Back

Competition can limit population growth by reducing the availability of resources such as food, water, and space.