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Population
A group of organisms of one species that lives in the same place at the same time
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Exponential Growth
- Occurs only under special conditions, such as introduction to a new habitat with unlimited resources, only for a short time in nature.
- -When there are no limiting factors for the population
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Limiting Factors
- Limiting factors restrict exponential growth.
- Limited resources such as water or food where there is not enough to support the population.
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Carrying Capacity
- Size of population that can be supported by the resources and conditions of the ecosystem.
- When resources are used at a pace exceeding the ecosystems carrying capacity, population will decrease to a new equilibrium(a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.)
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Ecological Niche
- The place or function of a given organism within its ecosystem.
- An organisms niche includes resources they use, abiotic limiting factors that restrict how it can survive, and biotic relationships that is has with other species.
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Predator
- An organism that kills and consumes other organisms.
- e.g. bird eats worm, bird is the prey
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Prey
- An organism that is eaten as food by a predator.
- e.g. worm is eaten by bird, worm is the prey
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Mutualism
- the symbiotic relationship between two in which both species benefit from the relationship.
- e.g. algae and coral
- -algae provides coral with up to 90% of its energy, and coral provides algae with protection, nutrients, and CO2
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Parasite
- An organism whose niche is dependent on a larger host organism.
- Parasite usually benefits, and larger host is usually hurt.(Symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is hurt)
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Competition
- When two organisms compete for the same resource, at the same time and location.
- e.g. flowers and weeds.
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Sustainable Use
- Use of a resource that does not cause long term depletion or affect the diversity of the ecosystem from which it was obtained.
- e.g. not over using a resource to the point where it hurts the ecosystem
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Doubling Time
Period of time that is required for the population to double
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Ecological Footprint
- Measure of impact that an individual or population has on the environment
- e.g. energy consumption, land use, and waste production.
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Unsuitability
A pattern of activity that leads to a decline in the function of an ecosystem.
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Sustainability
- Use of Earths resources, including land and water, at levels that can continue forever.
- Only using the amount you need
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Ecosystem Services
- Benefits experienced by organisms that are provided by sustainable ecosystems.
- e.g. provision of food and clean water, cycling of nutrients, balance of process, etc
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Desertification
- Change of non desert areas into desert.
- occurs when forests are cut down-annual precipitation drops- climate gets hotter and drier.
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Ecotourism
- Tourism that is sensitive to the health of an ecosystem, involves recreational activities provided by sustainable ecosystems.
- e.g. fishing, boat trips, etc
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