All Flashcards
What do survivorship curves show?
Mortality patterns, age-specific survival, and parental care impact.
What are the characteristics of Type I curves?
High survival until old age, sharp mortality increase later; typical of K-selected species.
What are the characteristics of Type II curves?
Constant death rate throughout lifespan; age doesn't impact survival probability.
What are the characteristics of Type III curves?
High mortality early in life, few survive to old age; typical of r-selected species.
How do K-selected species relate to survivorship curves?
They typically exhibit Type I survivorship curves.
How do r-selected species relate to survivorship curves?
They typically exhibit Type III survivorship curves.
How does parental care affect survivorship?
High parental care often leads to higher survivorship rates, especially early in life.
Why are survivorship curves important for conservation?
They help identify vulnerable life stages of endangered species.
How do survivorship curves aid wildlife management?
By understanding how mortality rates are affected by factors like hunting or habitat loss.
What insights do survivorship curves provide into ecosystems?
They provide insights into the dynamics of ecosystems and how different species interact.
What are survivorship curves?
Graphs showing the proportion of individuals likely to survive to different ages.
Define mortality pattern.
The age-specific probability of death within a population.
Define K-selected species.
Species with few offspring, high parental care, and long lifespans.
Define r-selected species.
Species with many offspring, little parental care, and short lifespans.
Define Type I survivorship curve.
High survival until old age, then a sharp mortality increase.
Define Type II survivorship curve.
Constant death rate throughout the lifespan.
Define Type III survivorship curve.
High mortality early in life, with few surviving to old age.
What is age-specific survival?
How survival rates change as individuals age.
What is parental care?
Investment by parents to increase offspring survival.
Define population dynamics.
How populations change in size and composition over time.
What does a survivorship curve illustrate?
Mortality patterns and age-specific survival of a species.
How does parental care affect survivorship curves?
High parental care often leads to Type I curves, while low/no care leads to Type III.
What is the relationship between K-selected species and Type I curves?
K-selected species typically exhibit Type I survivorship curves.
What is the relationship between r-selected species and Type III curves?
r-selected species typically exhibit Type III survivorship curves.
What does a flat survivorship curve indicate?
High survival rates across most of the lifespan.
What does a steep drop in a survivorship curve indicate?
High mortality rates during that life stage.
How do survivorship curves relate to reproductive strategies?
They reflect the trade-off between number of offspring and parental investment.
What does a Type II survivorship curve indicate about mortality?
A constant death rate, regardless of age.
How are survivorship curves used in conservation?
To identify vulnerable life stages and inform protection efforts.
How are survivorship curves used in wildlife management?
To understand how mortality rates are affected by factors like hunting or habitat loss.