Science Unit 1- Ecology

Population Dynamics.

 Key Terms

Population Ecology: The study of

Distribution density

o   Numbers

o   Rates of natality(births vs deaths)

o   Mortality

o   And factors that affect growth

Population:  A group of individuals belonging to the same species that inhabit a                                specific geographic location at a specific point in time.

Exponential Growth: accelerating growth that produces a J-shaped curve when the population is graphed against time. Only occurs when you have a dramatic increase in population.

Carrying Capacity: the maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported by an encosystem indefinately.

Law of minimum: the nutrient in least supply is the one that limits growth.

Law of Tolerance: an organism can survive…