Population Ecology
Big idea: Population ecology measures abundance, structure and change through births, deaths and movement, and uses growth models to understand limiting factors and carrying capacity.
Learning goals
- population density
- exponential growth
- logistic growth
- carrying capacity
- density dependence
Core concepts
population density
The number of individuals per unit area or volume.
exponential growth
Growth at a constant per-capita rate under effectively unlimited resources, producing a J-shaped curve.
logistic growth
Growth that slows as density approaches carrying capacity, producing an S-shaped pattern.
carrying capacity
The population size an environment can sustain over time under given conditions.
density dependence
A factor whose per-capita effect strengthens or changes with population density.