All Flashcards
Significance of competition in population growth?
Limits population size by restricting access to resources.
Significance of carrying capacity?
Represents the limit of environmental resources to support a population.
What does exponential growth indicate?
Unlimited resources and ideal conditions for a population.
What does logistic growth model?
Realistic population growth with resource limitations and carrying capacity.
How does environmental resistance affect population growth?
Slows down population growth as it approaches carrying capacity.
What happens when a population overshoots?
It often leads to a population crash due to resource depletion.
Why is understanding logistic growth crucial?
Reflects real-world population dynamics, frequent topic on AP exam.
How is exponential growth a starting point?
Logistic growth often starts with exponential growth before environmental factors kick in.
What is the real-world application of population growth?
Most populations in nature follow a logistic growth pattern.
What is the relationship between population growth rate and species thriving?
Higher growth rates often mean a species is more likely to thrive.
Define population growth rate.
How populations change over time, influenced by their environment.
Define exponential growth.
Population increase at its maximum rate, leading to a J-shaped curve.
Define intrinsic rate of increase (r).
The maximum potential growth rate of a population.
Define logistic growth.
Population grows exponentially at first, then slows as it approaches carrying capacity, creating an S-shaped curve.
Define carrying capacity (K).
The maximum population size an environment can sustain.
Define environmental resistance.
Factors that slow population growth, like limited food, water, and space.
Define overshoot.
When a population exceeds its carrying capacity.
What is a J-curve?
The shape of the graph showing rapid, accelerating (exponential) growth.
What is an S-curve?
The shape of the graph, showing initial exponential growth followed by a leveling off (logistic growth).
Define biome.
The environment a species lives in, with all its unique challenges and resources.
Define population growth rate.
How populations change over time, influenced by their environment.
What is exponential growth?
Population increase at its maximum rate, leading to a J-shaped curve.
Define intrinsic rate of increase (r).
The maximum potential growth rate of a population.
What is logistic growth?
Population grows exponentially then slows as it approaches carrying capacity, forming an S-shaped curve.
Define carrying capacity (K).
The maximum population size an environment can sustain.
What is environmental resistance?
Factors that slow population growth, such as limited resources.
Define overshoot.
When a population exceeds its carrying capacity.
What is a population crash?
A sudden decline in population size, often after an overshoot.
Define biome.
The environment a species lives in.
What is self-sufficiency?
How well a species can provide for its own needs.