1.  Population Ecology

2. Carrying Capacity  The maximum amount of organisms an ecosystem can support  Shown as an S-curve

3. Density  Measurement of a population per unit area  Dp = N / S  D = Density; p = population; N = number of organisms; S = size of area  2 types:  Density Dependent – biotic (living) factors that affect a population  Density Independent – abiotic (non-living) factors that affect a population

4. Factors that Affect Density  Immigration  Emigration  Birth  Death

5. Symbiosis  3 Types of Symbiotic Relationships:  Mutualism – both species benefit  Ex: Bird eating ticks off a cow  Parasitism – one benefits & one is harmed  Ex: Tick on you  Commensalism – one benefits & the other is neither harmed nor benefits  Ex: Carrying a bug to a new location

6. Pioneer Organism  The first organism to appear in an ecosystem

7. Immigration / Emigration  Immigration – organisms moving into an ecosystem  Emigration – organisms moving out of an ecosystem

8. Exponential Growth  A rapid increase in population  Shown as a J-curve

9. Climax Community  The final stage of succession  The point when a community is in its prime, or the happiest

10. Limiting Factor  Biotic or Abiotic factors that affect a population  Ex: water, food, temperature

11. Succession  Any change in communities / populations over time

12. Demography  Statistical analysis of a population  Studying a population using numbers / facts

13. Rate of Natural Increase  How much a population goes down or up  Birth Rate Death Rate Rate of Natural Increase