Ecology Flashcard

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What is a keystone species?

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A species that is critical to the functioning of an ecosystem, often having a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

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What is an endangered species?

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A species that is likely to become extinct if protective measures are not taken immediately.

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What is carrying capacity?

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The maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support sustainably.

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What is logistic growth?

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A growth pattern where a population's growth rate decreases as it reaches carrying capacity, resulting in an S-shaped curve.

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What does a stable population trend indicate?

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It suggests that the population size remains relatively constant over time, with births and deaths balancing each other.

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What is biodiversity?

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The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of different species.

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What is a threatened species?

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

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What factors can affect population growth?

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Factors include availability of resources, predation, disease, and environmental conditions.

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What is the difference between exponential and logistic growth?

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Exponential growth occurs when resources are unlimited, leading to a rapid increase, while logistic growth occurs when resources are limited, stabilizing at carrying capacity.

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What is an endemic species?

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A species that is native to and restricted to a specific geographic area.