Population Dynamics - Environmental systems

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What is carrying capacity?

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The maximum number of individuals of a population that the environment can support.

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What factors have contributed to the dramatic increase in world population?

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Better medicine, better sanitation, and better technology.

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What are r-strategists?

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Organisms that typically live in unstable environments, reproduce rapidly, do not care for their young, and are subject to predation.

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What are k-strategists?

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Organisms that occupy stable environments, are larger in size, have longer life expectancies, and invest more in fewer offspring.

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What is the difference between r-strategists and k-strategists?

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R-strategists reproduce quickly in unstable environments, while k-strategists reproduce slowly in stable environments.

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What is exponential growth in population dynamics?

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A rapid increase in population size when resources are abundant, often represented by a J-shaped curve.

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What is logistic growth in population dynamics?

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A growth pattern that starts exponentially but levels off as the population reaches carrying capacity, represented by an S-shaped curve.

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What is a population crash?

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A sudden decline in the number of individuals in a population, often due to resource depletion.

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What is mutualism?

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A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

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What is a lag phase in population growth?

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The initial period of slow growth in a population before it begins to increase rapidly.