Population Week 1
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Population growth rate
The number of offspring an individual can produce in a given time period, minus the deaths of the individual or its offspring during the same period. Also known as intrinsic growth rate
Biotic potential
Under ideal conditions with unlimited resources available, every population has a maximum potential for growth
K-selected species
A species with a low intrinsic growth rate that causes the population to increase slowly until it reaches the carrying capacity for the environment
Carrying capacity
The limit to the number of individuals that can be supported by an existing habitat or ecosystem and is denoted as K
r-selected species
A species that has a high intrinsic growth rate, and their population typically increases rapidly
Overshoot
When a population becomes larger than the environment’s carrying capacity
Dieback
A rapid decline in a population due to death. Also known as die-off
Density-dependent factor
A factor that influences an individual’s probability of survival and reproduction in a manner that depends on the size of the population
Density-independent factor
A factor that has the same effect on an individual’s probability of survival and reproduction at any population size
Fecundity
The ability to produce an abundance of offspring
Exponential growth model
A growth model that estimate a population’s future sixe after a period of time based on the biotic potential and the number of reproducing individuals currently in the population
J-shaped curve
The curve of the exponential growth model when graphed
Logistic growth model
A growth model that describes a population whose growth is initially exponential, but slows as the population approaches and carrying capacity of the environment
S-shaped curve
The shape of the logistic growth model when graphed
Limiting resource
A resource that a population cannot live without that occurs in quantities lower than the population would required to increase in size
Type II survivorship curve
A pattern of survival over time in which there is a relatively constant decline in survivorship throughout most of the life span.
Type III survivorship curve
A pattern of survival over time in which there is low survivorship (a high death rate) early in life with few individuals reaching adulthood.
Type I survivorship curve
A pattern of survival over time in which there is high survival throughout most of the life span, but then individuals start to die in large numbers as they approach old age.