Population Indicators

Question 1

what is the j shaped population curve

Answer 1

• graphical representation of the change in population density of an organism as it increases rapidly and then stops suddenly, due to environmental or other factors

Question 2

what is the S shaped Population Curve

Answer 2

• graphical representation of change in a population density of an organism when it initially approaches an exponential growth rate, but then decreases and levels off as the environmental carrying capacity is reached

Question 3

what is Equilibrium (set Point)

Answer 3

• point at which a system can be maintained e.g population size for a specific environment

Question 4

what is ecological homeostasis

Answer 4

• maintenance of a population size commensurate with environmental limiting g factors, mediated by feedback systems

Question 5

what is migration

Answer 5

• the movement of individuals of a species from one place to another

Question 6

what is immigration

Answer 6

• the movement of individuals of species into a place

Question 7

what is emigration

Answer 7

• the movement of individuals of a species out of a place

Question 8

what is direct observation

Answer 8

• a method used to measure abundance e.g recording sights, at particular intervals; can be time consuming and dangerous

Question 9

what is Lincoln index

Answer 9

• a formula used to estimate animal population sizes through mark and recapture technique

Question 10

what is capture-mark-recapture

Answer 10

• an ecological surveying technique used to measure animal populations, in which individual animals are captured marked and released, after a time, the population is resampled and the number of marked animals caught gives an indication of population size.

Question 11

what is random distribution

Answer 11

• a measurement of distribution in which organisms are spaced irregularly

Question 12

what is uniform (continuous) distribution

Answer 12

• a measurement of distribution in which organisms are evenly spaced

Question 13

what is clumped (grouped distribution)

Answer 13

• a measurement of distribution in which individuals are grouped together when biotic and/ or abiotic factors are favourable; can be social (e.g Schools of fish) or clumping of vegetation