Chapter 3

Generalist species are those that can adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and can survive in many different habitats. Some examples of generalist species include raccoons, coyotes, and rats.

Specialist species are those that have specific habitat requirements and are adapted to thrive in a narrow range of environmental conditions. Some examples of specialist species include koalas, pandas, and monarch butterflies.

K-selected species are those that have a low reproductive rate, long life span, and are adapted to thrive in stable environments. Some examples of K-selected species include elephants, whales, and humans.

r-selected species are those that have a high reproductive rate, short life span, and are adapted to thrive in unstable environments. Some examples of r-selected species include insects, rodents, and some fish species.

Survivorship curves are graphs that show the number of individuals from a population that survive to different ages. There are three types of survivorship curves: Type I, Type II, and Type III.

Type I survivorship curve shows high survival rates for individuals that survive to old age.

Type II survivorship curve shows constant mortality rates for individuals throughout their lifespan.

Type III survivorship curve shows high mortality rates for individuals at a young age, with those that survive to adulthood having high survival rates.

K-strategists typically follow Type I survivorship curves. They invest a lot of resources in their offspring, which results in high survival rates for individuals that survive to old age.

R-strategists typically follow Type III survivorship curves. They produce large numbers of offspring with low investment in each offspring, which results in high mortality rates for individuals at a young age, with those that survive to adulthood having high survival rates.

Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain over a long period of time.

Population overshoot occurs when a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment, leading to a decline in resources and an increase in mortality rates.

Biotic potential refers to the maximum rate at which a population can grow under ideal conditions, with unlimited resources and without any environmental constraints.

Density-dependent factors are environmental factors that have a greater impact on populations as their size and density increase. Examples include competition for resources, predation, and disease.

Density-independent factors are environmental factors that affect populations regardless of their size and density. Examples include natural disasters, climate change, and habitat destruction.

Logistic growth is a type of population growth that occurs when a population grows rapidly at first, but then slows down as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment. The growth rate slows as the population size approaches the carrying capacity.

Exponential growth is a type of population growth that occurs when a population grows at a constant rate, with no constraints on its growth. The population size doubles at a constant rate over time.

Birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 individuals in a population per year.

Death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 individuals in a population per year.

Life expectancy is the average number of years that an individual is expected to live, based on demographic factors such as age, gender, and location.

Fertility rate is the number of live births per 1,000 women of childbearing age (usually defined as ages 15-49) in a population per year.

Total fertility rate is the average number of children that a woman is expected to have over her lifetime, based on current birth rates. It is often used as an indicator of population growth or decline.

Replacement level fertility is the average number of children per woman required to maintain a stable population size over time. It is usually estimated to be around 2.1 children per woman.

Infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given population in a given year.