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17 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is ecology?
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Ecology is the study of how the individuals of a species interact with themselves, other species, and their environment.
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What is the basic unit of ecology?
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population
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What is a population?
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A population is a group of individuals of the same species that inhabit the same area.
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What is a population density?
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Population density is the number of individuals in a population that inhabit a given area.
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What factors have ecologists investigated to affect density?
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Abiotic
Food Reproduction Predation Behavior Mutualism Infectious disease Parasitism |
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What is the most common spatial distribution pattern of individuals?
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Clumped dispersal is the most common spatial distribution pattern of individuals.
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What does clumped dispersal indicate about a species?
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Clumped dispersal:
Cooperation improves reproduction and hunting. Pathogen and parasite transmission among "groups" are reduced. Each discrete habitat has sufficient abiotic conditions and food. |
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What is uniform dispersal?
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Uniform (regular) dispersal relates to resource limitations (limited food, breeding sites, etc.)
Each individual aggressively maintains its space. Animals show territorial behavior. Plants show allelopathy. |
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What is random dispersal?
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Random dispersal is due to the absence of strong attractions or repulsions among individuals.
Similar resource availability (food, water, minerals, soil quality, etc) exists throughout the entire habitat. |
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Cooperative behavior relates to __________ ________.
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clumped dispersal
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What is demograhy?
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Demography is the study of the vital statistics (birth and death rate) of a population and how they vary over time.
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Aggressive behavior relates to _________ __________.
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uniform dispersal
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Absence of attractions among individuals relates to _________ ___________.
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random dispersal
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Species-specific behaviors and resource availability relates to _________ _________.
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spatial dispersal
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What is "life history"?
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"Life history" describes the reproductive pattern (strategy) of a species.
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What is semelparity?
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Semelparity (big-bang reproduction) is a single, massive reproductive event followed by death.
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What is iteroparity?
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Iteroparity (repeated reproduction) occurs when offspring are produced once or more per year.
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