Definition & Importance of Predation: Predation is a natural process where one organism (predator) hunts and consumes another (prey). It serves as a means of transferring energy fixed by autotrophic organisms (plants) to higher trophic levels in the food chain. Predation helps regulate the population of prey species, ensuring...
Interspecific Interactions: These interactions arise from the interaction of populations of two different species. They can be: Beneficial: One or both species benefit. Detrimental: One or both species are harmed. Neutral: Neither species benefits nor is harmed. Key Types of Interactions (with symbols): Mutualism (+ +): Both species benefit...
Reproductive Fitness: Populations evolve to maximize their reproductive fitness (also called Darwinian fitness). High reproductive fitness is associated with a high r value (intrinsic rate of natural increase). Reproductive Strategies: Organisms adopt strategies based on the habitat they live in and the selection pressures they face. Two major reproductive...
Resource Limitation in Nature: Unlimited resources do not exist in nature for any species. Limited resources lead to competition among individuals. Only the ‘fittest’ individuals survive and reproduce (Natural Selection). Carrying Capacity (K): Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that a habitat can sustain with its available resources....
Predictable Patterns in Population Growth Population growth can follow specific and predictable patterns over time. Human population growth has raised concerns, leading to curiosity about whether animal populations exhibit similar patterns or natural restraints. Understanding these patterns can provide insights into controlling population growth. Types of Growth Models Exponential...
Population Size and Dynamics Population size for any species is not constant; it changes over time due to: Food availability. Predation pressure. Adverse weather conditions. These fluctuations in population density indicate whether a population is flourishing or declining. Factors Affecting Population Density Population density in a given habitat during...
Definition of a Population A population consists of a group of individuals of the same species: Living in a well-defined geographical area. Sharing or competing for similar resources. Potentially interbreeding. A population may also include individuals produced through asexual reproduction for ecological studies. Examples of populations: Cormorants in a...
1. Introduction to Biological Complexity Our living world is both diverse and complex, consisting of multiple levels of biological organization: Macromolecules Cells Tissues Organs Individual organisms Populations Communities Ecosystems Biomes 2. Types of Scientific Questions When studying biological processes, we can ask two main types of questions: How-Type Questions:...
Overview of Taxonomic Categories Classification Process: Involves a hierarchy of steps, each representing a rank or category. All categories together form the taxonomic hierarchy. Each category is a taxon (plural: taxa) and represents a unit of classification. Key Features: Categories represent distinct biological entities, not just morphological groups. Knowledge...
Floral Diagram & Floral Formula