| Term | Definition |
|---|
| carrying capacity | number of organisms of one species that an environment can support indefinitely |
| density-dependent factor | disease, competition, predators, parasites, and food (limiting factors) |
| density-independent factor | can affect populations, regardless of their density |
| exponential growth | population gets larger, grows at a faster rate |
| life-history pattern | organism's reproductive pattern |
| age structure | proportion of the population that are in different age levels |
| birthrate | number of live births per 1000 population in a given year |
| death rate | number of deaths per 1000 population in a given year |
| demography | study of human population size, density and distribution, movement, and its birth and death rates |
| doubling time | time needed for a population to double in size |
| acid precipitation | rain, snow, sleet, and fog with low pH values |
| biodiversity | variety of species in a specific area |
| edge effect | different conditions along the boundaries of an ecosystem |
| endangered species | numbers become so low that extinction is possible |
| exotic species | animals not native to a particular area |
| extinction | disappearance of a species when the last of its members dies |
| habitat degradation | damage to a habitat by pollution |
| habitat fragmentation | separation of wilderness areas from other wilderness areas |
| ozone layer | absorbs some of the ultraviolet waves striking the atmosphere, reducing the ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth's surface |
| threatened species | population of a species is likely to become endangered |
| captivity | organisms that are held by people |
| conservation biology | study of implementation of methods to protect biodiversity |
| habitat corridors | protected strips of land that allow the migration of organism from one wilderness are to another |
| natural resources | parts of the environment that are useful or necessary for living organisms |
| reintroduction programs | release organisms into an area where the species once lived |
| sustainable use | strives to enable people to use natural resources in ways that will benefit them and maintain the ecosystem |
Combine with other sets
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