EcologyLesson 5 of 5 in the course Population geography

Overpopulation: Carrying Capacity, Wildlife Management, and Human Impacts

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces overpopulation as an ecological concept and explains why judgments about it involve both evidence and values.

Overpopulation, also called overabundance, occurs when a population of a species becomes larger than the environment can sustainably support. The relevant environment may be a small habitat or a much larger region. A population can be considered overabundant when its members cannot reliably obtain resources such as food, water, shelter, or space.

All flashcards

Carrying capacity
The population size an environment can support over time given its resources and conditions.
Immunocontraception
A vaccine-based method intended to reduce reproduction in wildlife.
Introduced species
A species moved beyond its native range, intentionally or accidentally.
Invasive species
An introduced species that spreads and causes harmful effects.
Ecosystem services
Benefits people obtain from functioning ecosystems.

Quiz questions

  1. Why can predator population changes lag behind changes in prey populations?Answer: Reproduction and survival take time to respond to changing food availability.
  2. What distinguishes an invasive species from an introduced species?Answer: An invasive species spreads and causes harmful effects.
  3. How does mark–recapture help estimate an animal population?Answer: Researchers compare marked and unmarked animals in a later sample.
  4. How can sterilization help address pet overpopulation?Answer: It reduces future births that might add to crowded shelter populations.
  5. Why do estimates of a sustainable global population vary?Answer: They rely on assumptions about consumption, technology, equity, and acceptable impacts.

Based on the Wikipedia article Overpopulation, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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