BI111 Chapter Notes - Chapter 45: Biological Dispersal, Carrying Capacity, Generation Time
Document Summary
Ecologists study levels of organization ranging from individual organisms to the biosphere. Study of the interactions between organisms (biotic) and their environments (abiotic) Field or laboratory studies used to test predictions by manipulating variables. Data collected about natural experiments do not require manipulations. Allows computer models to simulate natural events and large-scale experiments. Overarching goal of ecology is to understand the causes and consequences of changes of population/community structure. Geographic range: overall spatial boundaries within which a population lives. Habitat: specific environment in which a population lives, as characterized by its biotic and abiotic features. Relationship between size and density often indicates information about resources used. Step 1: capture a random sample of individuals (n1) tbat are marked. Step 2: release marked individuals back into population. Step 3: capture a second random sample of individuals (n2), some of whom are marked (n2m) Step 4: calculate initial population size (x) using the formula n1/x = n2m/n2.
