Population Ecology Pre-Assessment

Front

What is population ecology?

Back

The study of how populations interact with their environment and how they change over time.

Front

What is a population?

Back

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support sustainably.

Front

What is logistic growth?

Back

A pattern of growth where a population's growth rate decreases as it reaches carrying capacity.

Front

What is emigration?

Back

The movement of individuals out of a population.

Front

What is immigration?

Back

The movement of individuals into a population.

Front

What factors can limit population growth?

Back

Limited resources, predation, disease, and competition.

Front

What is 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 density (e.g., natural disasters).

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What is a trophic level?

Back

The position an organism occupies in a food chain, which determines its role in the ecosystem.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.