All Flashcards
What are the stages of logistic growth?
- Initial Exponential Growth, 2. Slowing Growth, 3. Reaching Carrying Capacity (K).
What is the definition of 'population'?
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area.
What is 'dN/dt' in population ecology?
Change in population size over time.
Define 'rmax'.
Maximum per capita growth rate.
What is 'carrying capacity (K)'?
The maximum number of individuals an environment can support.
Define 'density-dependent' limiting factors.
Factors that affect population growth more strongly as population density increases (e.g., predation, competition, disease).
Define 'density-independent' limiting factors.
Factors that affect population growth regardless of population density (e.g., natural disasters, climate change).
What are the key differences between exponential and logistic growth?
Exponential: Unlimited resources, constant growth rate. Logistic: Limited resources, growth slows as carrying capacity is approached.
Compare density-dependent and density-independent limiting factors.
Density-dependent: Impact varies with population size. Density-independent: Impact is the same regardless of population size.