BIOL 2140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Acer Saccharum, Metapopulation
Document Summary
Fundamental niche: the range of abiotic conditions (ex. Temperature, humidity, salinity) under which a species can persist. Competitors, predators and pathogens may prevent a population from persisting in an area. Realized niche: the range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species can persist. Geographic range: a measure of the total area covered by a population (ex. Temperature and drought define the range of sugar maple) As a general rule, populations can grow larger in more suitable habitats. Understanding the realized niche of a species aids in species conversation and can help to limit the spread of invasive species. Ecological niche modeling: the process of determining the suitable habitat conditions for a species. Ecological envelope: the range of ecological conditions that are predicted to be suitable for a species (differs from the realized niche, which describes conditions in which a species currently exists) Endemic: species that live in a single, often, isolated, location.
