Chapter+14

__Section 14.1__ __[|Habitat and Niche]__ __[|Competitive Exclusion]__ Ecological Equivalents- Different species that occupy similar ecological niches in similar ecosystems in different parts of the world. October 16,2011 8:32pm

__Section 14.2__ __[|Competition, Predation, and Symbiosis]__ __[|Parisitism]__ __[|Mutualism]__ Commensalism- An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm. [|Commensalism] October 16,2011 8:32pm __Section 14.3__
 * Population density- the number of individuals of a population per unit of living space
 * Population dispersion is the observation of where individuals are found in a habitat. How individuals "disperse" themselves. There are three main types of dispersion: **clumped**, **uniform** and **random**.


 * **Clumped Dispersion -** Is the tendency for populations to be found in tight clusters, dispersed across a large landscape. In between these population hubs, very few to no individuals are usually found. This sort of a dispersion can be caused by a number of factors. Some species cluster together for protection, while others group around natural resources necessary to their survival.


 * **Uniform Dispersion -** Is the tendency for populations to be found evenly distributed about their habitat. This is generally caused by a species ability to survive anywhere in their habitat - they use the resources found immediately around them, and spread out as to use all of the available resources.

[|Population Dispersion] [|Survivorship Curve]
 * **Random Dispersion -** Is the tendency for populations to be found randomly about their habitat. In immobile species, this is usually caused by their ability to live anywhere in a given habitat, except, they are limited to growing wherever they are first set root (which is usually caused randomly, from spores drifting in the wind to seeds falling and tumbling on the ground). In motile populations, individuals are able to move about their habitat, so that at any given instance, they can be found anywhere about their environment.

__Section 14.4__ __[|Population Growth Patterns]__

__Section 14.5__ __[|Succession]__ __[|Primary Succession]__ [|Secondary Succession].
 * Pioneer Species - species which colonize previously uncolonized land, usually leading to ecological succession