Question

1. define the following terms:

a. population -
b. density -
c. dispersion -
d. mark - recapture method -
e. immigration -
f. emigration -

1. what are the three patterns of dispersion and what conclusions can you draw from these patterns?

clumped -
random -
uniform -

1. define the following terms:

a. life tables -
b. survivorship curves -
c. reproductive table -
d. life history

1. use the diagram below - label the three different survivorship curves - give an example of an animal that fits the curve and an explanation of why they fit the curve.

Explanation:

a. Population refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area at the same time.
b. Density is the number of individuals of a population per unit area or volume.
c. Dispersion is the pattern of spacing among individuals within the boundaries of the population.
d. Mark - recapture method is a technique for estimating population size. It involves marking a sample of individuals in the population, releasing them, and then recapturing a second sample to estimate the total population size based on the proportion of marked individuals in the second sample.
e. Immigration is the movement of individuals into a population from other areas.
f. Emigration is the movement of individuals out of a population to other areas.

For the three patterns of dispersion:

• Clumped dispersion means individuals are grouped in patches. It often occurs when resources are unevenly distributed or due to social behavior. For example, herds of elephants gather around waterholes in the savanna as water is a limited resource.
• Random dispersion occurs when individuals are distributed unpredictably in space, with no strong attractions or repulsions among them. An example could be dandelions in a field where seeds are randomly dispersed by the wind and grow wherever they land.
• Uniform dispersion is when individuals are evenly spaced. This can be due to territorial behavior or competition for resources. For example, penguins on a breeding colony may maintain a relatively uniform distance from each other to avoid over - crowding and competition for space.

a. Life tables are age - specific summaries of the survival and reproductive rates in a population. They provide information on how survival and reproduction vary with age.
b. Survivorship curves are graphs that show the proportion of a population's individuals surviving to different ages. They can be used to compare the survival patterns of different species or populations.
c. Reproductive tables summarize the reproductive rates of individuals of different ages in a population. They help in understanding the contribution of different age classes to the overall reproduction of the population.
d. Life history is the traits that affect an organism's schedule of reproduction and survival, including age at first reproduction, number of offspring per reproductive event, and frequency of reproduction.

For the fourth question, the three types of survivorship curves are:

• Type I: High survival of the young and middle - aged, with a rapid decline in survival in old age. Humans are an example. This is because in human populations, medical care and social support systems help most individuals survive through childhood and adulthood, but the risk of death increases significantly in old age.
• Type II: Constant rate of survival throughout life. Songbirds are an example. They face similar risks of predation, disease, and environmental factors throughout their lives, resulting in a relatively linear decline in survival over time.
• Type III: High mortality of the young, with low and relatively constant mortality of survivors. Sea turtles are an example. Many sea turtle eggs and hatchlings are eaten by predators or face difficult environmental conditions in the ocean, but those that survive to adulthood have a relatively stable survival rate.

Answer:

a. A group of individuals of the same species in a particular area at the same time.
b. Number of individuals per unit area or volume.
c. Pattern of spacing among individuals in a population.
d. Technique for estimating population size by marking and recapturing individuals.
e. Movement of individuals into a population.
f. Movement of individuals out of a population.

Clumped - Individuals grouped in patches, often due to resource distribution or social behavior (e.g., elephants around waterholes).
Random - Unpredictable distribution, like dandelions in a field.
Uniform - Evenly spaced, due to territoriality or resource competition (e.g., penguins in a colony).

a. Age - specific summaries of survival and reproductive rates.
b. Graphs showing proportion of individuals surviving to different ages.
c. Summaries of reproductive rates of different - aged individuals.
d. Traits affecting an organism's reproduction and survival schedule.

Type I: High young and middle - aged survival, rapid old - age decline (e.g., humans).
Type II: Constant survival rate (e.g., songbirds).
Type III: High young mortality, low and constant survivor mortality (e.g., sea turtles).