| A | B |
|---|
| carrying capacity (K) | the limit of how many individuals in a population the food supply can sustain |
| j-shaped curve | the curve of the exponential growth model when graphed |
| K-selected species | a species with low intrinsic growth rate that causes the population to increase slowly until it reaches carrying capacity (bigger, longer lived, better parents, fewer offspring, specialists) |
| intrinsic growth rate (r) | the maximum potential for growth of a popluation under ideal conditions with unlimited resources |
| logistic growth | a growth model that describes a population whose initial growth is exponential, but it slows as the population reaches carrying capacity |
| S-curve | the shape of the logistic growth model when graphed |
| r-selected species | a species that has a high intrinsic growth rate, which often leads to population over shoots and die-offs (small, generalists, opportunists, several offspring, short life span, bad parents) |
| metapopulation | a group of spatially distinct populations that are connected by occasional movements of individuals between them. |
| parasite | a predator that lives on or in the organism it consumes |
| parasitoid | an organism that lays eggs inside other organisms |
| mutualism | an interaction between species that increases the chances of survival for both species (+,+) |
| commensalism | a relationship between species in which one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped (+,0) |
| keystone species | a species that is far more important in its community than its relative abundance might suggest |
| population distribution | random, uniform or clumped |
| limiting resource | a resource a population con't live without and which occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size |
| density dependent factors | impacted by the size of the population, such a food |
| density independent factor | not impacted by the size of the population, such as climate and natural disasters |
| type II survivorship | displays relatively constant decline in survivorship over time |
| type III survivorship | very low survivorship early in life |
| type I suvivorship | excellent survivorship until old age |
| ecological succession | the predictable changes in a community over time, after a disturbance such as fire. |
| primary succession | no soil initially present |
| secondary succession | soil is initially present |
| pioneer species | are first to colonize an area after disturbance; grow well in full sun and nutrient poor soil |
| climax species | found in the last, stable stage of succession; shade tolerant |
