Science Chapter 2 Glossary Terms

• -all the individuals which occupy a particular area at one time
• e.g. The population of bass in a certain aquatic ecosystem

• -the accelerated growth that makes a J-shaped curve when the population is graphed with time

• -A factor that restrains the growth, distribution or the amount of population in an ecosystem
• e.g. food, nutrients, and energy

-the size of a population that can supported indefinitely by the available resources and services of an ecosystem. Beyond this carrying capacity no additional individuals can be supported.

• -the place or function of a given organism within its ecosystem, the way that an organism occupies a position in an ecosystem. 
• e.g. space a bat takes up while sleeping in a cave is part of its ecological niche

• -An organism that kills and consumes other organisms
• e.g. carnivorous plants in bogs which eat insects

• -An organism that is eaten as food by a predator
• e.g. the insect which is eaten by the carnivorous plant.

• -Symbiotic relations where two species benefit from each other through the relationship
• e.g. the relationship between coral and algae (coral provides protection, etc.) the algae provides the coral with 90% of it's energy requirements.

• -An organism whose niche depends on a close association with a larger host organism
• e.g. the brain worm to a white-tailed deer

• -when two or more organisms compete for the same resources, like food and space.
• e.g. Dandelions compete with grass for the same resources.

-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.

• -The amount of time that it takes for the population to double in size
• e.g. It took 650 years or the human population to double from a quarter-billion.

• -The measure of the impact of an individual or a population on the environment
• -Data used to measure an ecological footprint include energy consumption, land use, and waste production.

• -A pattern of activity that leads to a decline in the function of an ecosystem
• e.g. Ecological footprints this large in our world with finite resources and is dependent on fossil fuels.

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

• -The benefits experienced y organisms, including humans, that are provided by sustainable ecosystems.
• e.g. cycling of nutrients, provision of food and clean water.

-The change of non-desert land into a desert ----This can 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. Annual migration of birds, boat trips to view aquatic animals.