Populations

Front

What is a population?

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time.

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 are limiting factors?

Back

Limiting factors are resources or conditions that limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population.

Front

How do births and deaths affect population growth?

Back

If the number of births equals the number of deaths, the population size will remain stable.

Front

What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

Back

The population will start to die off to return to the carrying capacity.

Front

What is the relationship between predator and prey populations?

Back

When the prey population increases, the predator population may also increase due to more available food.

Front

What are some examples of limiting factors?

Back

Food, water, shelter, space, and sunlight are common limiting factors.

Front

What is the effect of a decrease in resources on a population?

Back

A decrease in resources can lead to a decline in population size.

Front

What is a density-dependent factor?

Back

Density-dependent factors are limiting factors whose effects intensify as the population density increases, such as competition and disease.

Front

What is a density-independent factor?

Back

Density-independent factors are limiting factors that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters.