Define: population, exponential growth, biotic potential and carrying capacity, density dependent factors (give examples), density independent factors (give examples), dispersion, patterns of dispersion, age structure, fecundity, death rate, generation time, survivorship curves

population;-

A population can be defined as a group of con specifics (members of the same species) that use the same niche. Recall that a niche is an organism's "address"- everything the animal uses to survive and reproduce successfully. This can include food, shelter, water, nesting sited etc. Two important characteristics of any population are the density, or the number of individuals per unit area, and the dispersion, or patterns of spacing of individuals in a given area.

exponential growth

In exponential growth, a population's per capita (per individual) growth rate stays the same regardless of population size, making the population grow faster and faster as it gets larger.

In nature, populations may grow exponentially for some period, but they will ultimately be limited by resource availability.

biotic potential and carrying capacity

The maximum number of a given species that can be sustained by resources in a given environment is the species' carrying capacity, a concept often discussed alongside biotic potential. When a population is nearing its carrying capacity, the amount of resources used is equal to the amount of resources being produced.

density dependent factors  

The density dependent factors are factors whose effects on the size or growth of the population vary with the population density. There are many types of density dependent limiting factors such as; availability of food, predation, disease, and migration. However the main factor is the availability of food.

Density independent factors  

Density independent factors are factors that don't depended on other things, things like weather, drought, flooding, or hurricanes. Density dependent factors are that depend on other organisms, or populations. An example would be, disease, predation, and competition.

patterns of dispersion

way a particular population distributes itself over an area.

Age structure  

One of the tools that demographers use to understand population is the age structure diagram (it is sometimes called a population pyramid, but it is not always pyramidal in shape). This diagram shows the distribution by ages of females and males within a certain population in graphic form.

fecundity

he ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility.

the ability to produce many new ideas.

Death rate

the ratio of deaths to the population of a particular area during a particular period of time, usually calculated as the number of deaths per one thousand people per year.

Generation time  

In population biology and demography, the generation time is the average time between two consecutive generations in the lineages of a population. In human populations, the generation time typically ranges from 22 to 33 years

survivorship curves

A survivorship curve is a graph showing the number or proportion of individuals surviving to each age for a given species or group (e.g. males or females). Survivorship curves can be constructed for a given cohort (a group of individuals of roughly the same age) based on a life table.

lizards have adapted to life in the desert. some desert lizards have toes with spiny scales to them run across the sand without sinking. some use the sand to hide from predators, or to search for small animals that they prey upon.