SNC1DW Chapter 2

All the individuals of a species that occupy a particular geographic area at a certain time.

E.g. Canada's population contains roughly 35 million humans in 2014.

Accelerating growth that produces a J-shaped curve when the population is graphed against time.

• A factor that limits the growth, distribution, or amount of a population in an ecosystem.
• E.g. resource deficit, disease, weather patterns, etc.

The size of a population that can be supported indefinitely by the available resources and services of an ecosystem.

The way that an organism occupies a position in an ecosystem, including all the necessary biotic and abiotic factors.

E.g. A brown bat's niche includes the insects it eats, its competitors, and its predators.

An organism that kills and consumes other organisms.

E.g. Lions are a gazelle's predator.

An organism that is eaten as food by a predator.

E.g. Gazelles are a lion's prey.

A symbiotic relationship between two species in which both species benefit from the relationship.

E.g. Corals and algae live mutually.

An organism whose niche is dependent on a close association with a larger host organism.

E.g. The brainworm is a parasite to the white-tailed deer.

When two or more organisms compete for the same resource, such as food or space, in the same place at the same time.

E.g. Brook and Nine-spine Sticklebacks compete for areas to feed from.

Use that does not lead to long-term depletion of a resource or affect the diversity of the ecosystem from which the resource is obtained.

E.g. If humans do not use resources in a sustainable way, the human niche may shrink over time.

The period of time that is required for a population to double in size.

E.g. The present doubling time for humans is roughly 60 years.

A measure of the impact of an individual or a population on the environment in terms of energy consumption, land use, and waste production.

A pattern of activity that leads to a decline in the function of an ecosystem.

E.g. Using fossil fuels more and more make ecological footprints in this world potentially unsustainable.

Use of Earth's resources, including land and water, at levels that can continue forever.

E.g. Using resources more efficiently increases its sustainability, as well as using less resources.

The benefits experienced by organisms, including humans, that are provided by sustainable ecosystems.

E.g. provision of food/water, nutrient cycles, pollination and growth/decomposition balance.

The change of non-desert land into a desert. May result from climate change and unsustainable farming or water use.

A form of tourism that is sensitive to the health of an ecosystem and involves recreational activities provided by sustainable ecosystems.

E.g. Whale-watching, watching birds migrate, etc.