Population viability is the ability of a population to persist and avoid extinction. It increases and decreases depending on changes with the birth, death and growth rates of individuals. Population viability analysis refers to methods that use mathematical models to predict population dynamics. The abundance of natural resources can either aide or diminish the population … [Read more...]
Trophic Cascades
A trophic cascade is the trickle down changes in a food chain or food web caused by addition or removal of organisms at the top of the chain or web. For example, if sharks were added to a new ecosystem, the number of fish that they feed on would decrease, and the number of primary producers like algae would increase. If a renewable resource is also used by certain organisms in … [Read more...]
Habitat Fragmentation-Becky Johnson
Habitat fragmentation is the alteration of habitat resulting in spatial separation of habitat units from a previous state of greater continuity. Larger areas of habitat tend to be more desirable for species. Various things, such as the constructions of a road or formation of a stream, can cause a habitat to become fragmented. The smaller the habitat, the more vulnerable species … [Read more...]
Food Webs – Bobby Freeman
A food web is a complex representation of the feeding relationships of species within an ecological community. It can also be thought of as a collection of all of the different food chains within an ecological community and how they are related. Different organisms in an ecological community use various renewable resources, so we can apply information we have about a particular … [Read more...]
Population Growth Rate- NC
Population Growth Rate is the rate at which a population changes in size. Four core factors determine the growth rate of a population: 1. Births 2. Deaths 3. Immigration of new members into population 4. Emigration of members out of population Population growth rate is relevant to the science and policy of natural resource management because it has a direct … [Read more...]