All Flashcards
Cause: Population exceeds carrying capacity. Effect?
Resource depletion, increased competition, potential die-off.
Cause: Limited resources. Effect?
Lower carrying capacity, slower population growth, increased competition.
Cause: Introduction of a new predator. Effect?
Potential population crash of prey species, altered carrying capacity.
Cause: Unlimited resources. Effect?
Exponential population growth (J-curve).
Cause: Increased birth rates. Effect?
Population growth, potential overshoot if resources are limited.
Cause: Increased death rates. Effect?
Population decline, potential stabilization at a lower level.
Cause: Famine in a population. Effect?
Die-off due to lack of food and resources.
What limits carrying capacity?
Limited resources such as food, water, habitat, and sunlight.
What happens to resources during overshoot?
Resources are depleted, leading to environmental damage and increased competition.
What causes a population crash?
Lack of food, famine, disease, and intense competition.
Describe the relationship between resource availability and carrying capacity.
Limited resources = lower carrying capacity; abundant resources = higher carrying capacity.
How do overshoot and die-offs regulate population size?
They act as negative feedback loops, rebalancing the population after it exceeds resource availability.
Why is understanding population dynamics important?
Crucial for managing ecosystems and preventing long-term environmental damage.
What type of growth is represented by a J-curve?
Exponential growth, occurring when resources are unlimited.
What type of growth is represented by an S-curve?
Logistic growth, showing population leveling off near carrying capacity.
What is a population?
A group of the same species living in a specific area.
What is carrying capacity (K)?
The maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support with available resources.
What is population overshoot?
When a population exceeds its carrying capacity.
What is a population crash (die-off)?
A rapid decrease in population size due to lack of resources after an overshoot.
Define exponential growth.
Population growth under ideal conditions with unlimited resources (J-curve).
Define logistic growth.
Population growth that slows as it approaches carrying capacity (S-curve).