Introduction to Ecology Flashcard

Front

What type of growth is shown on this graph?

Back

Logistic growth is characterized by an initial exponential increase followed by a slowdown as the population reaches carrying capacity.

Front

In mutualism...

Back

In mutualism, both species benefit from the interaction.

Front

What kind of survivorship curve is shown?

Back

Type II survivorship curve indicates a constant mortality rate throughout the life span.

Front

What animal would have a Type III survivorship curve?

Back

Fish, amphibians, and invertebrates typically exhibit a Type III survivorship curve, characterized by high mortality rates in early life stages.

Front

The remora gets free food, and the shark just exists. What kind of relationship is this?

Back

This is an example of commensalism, where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Front

Define ecology.

Back

Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the interactions between organisms and their environment.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

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

Front

Explain the difference between density-dependent and density-independent factors.

Back

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

Front

What is a food chain?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.