Population Ecology: Growth and Interactions in Organism Environments - Prof. E. Wischusen, Study notes of Biology

Download Population Ecology: Growth and Interactions in Organism Environments - Prof. E. Wischusen and more Study notes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! Donnie Volpi 2/19/13 Population Ecology Definition: The study of how organisms interact with their environment. -Ecology can be studied at the level of individuals, population, community and ecosystems. Key Questions in population Ecology: How do populations grow? Factors to impact population growth; Biotic Factors: predators, parasites, competitors, mates Abiotic factors: Water, Light, nutrients, temperature, soil type, topography Exponential population growth: Key Assumptions: - no limits to population size! – Resources unlimited and habitats favorable! What causes populations to not increase exponentially? Density Dependent Process: Predation, Disease, and competition Density independent process: Environmental Change! Logistic Population growth: -carrying capacity! --> max number of individuals that can be supported in a population Most popular model! 4 phases: 1.) Lag phase, 2.) Exponential phase 3.) Deceleration phase 4.) Stable equilibrium phase Note: 1.) Labeling the test tubes at top 1/3 tube. 2.) Shaking the flasks containing chlamydomona well before use.