Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

50. Population Ecology

Introduction to Population Ecology

General Biology

50. Population Ecology

Introduction to Population Ecology

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0:47 minutes

Problem 6

Textbook Question

Pose a hypothesis to explain why the human population has undergone especially rapid growth over the past 200 years. Describe two examples of density-dependent factors that limit human population growth. Is it possible that humans have surpassed Earth's carrying capacity?

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Step 1: Formulate a hypothesis to explain the rapid growth of the human population over the past 200 years. A possible hypothesis could be: 'The rapid growth of the human population over the past 200 years is due to advancements in technology and medicine, which have led to increased food production and decreased mortality rates.'

Step 2: Describe two examples of density-dependent factors that limit human population growth. Density-dependent factors are factors whose effects on the size or growth of the population vary with the population density. One example could be 'Disease': As population density increases, the rate of transmission of diseases also increases, potentially leading to a decrease in population size. Another example could be 'Competition for resources': As the population grows, the demand for resources such as food, water, and space also increases. This can lead to a decrease in the availability of these resources, limiting the population growth.

Step 3: Discuss whether it is possible that humans have surpassed Earth's carrying capacity. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support indefinitely. You could say, 'Given the current rate of resource consumption and waste production, some scientists argue that humans have already surpassed Earth's carrying capacity. However, others believe that technological advancements can help us increase the Earth's carrying capacity by improving resource use efficiency and reducing waste.'

Step 4: Support your arguments with evidence. For example, you could cite statistics on population growth, resource consumption, and waste production. You could also refer to scientific studies that have investigated these issues.

Step 5: Conclude your discussion by summarizing your main points and suggesting areas for further research. For example, you could say, 'While it is clear that the human population has grown rapidly over the past 200 years due to advancements in technology and medicine, it is less clear whether we have surpassed Earth's carrying capacity. Further research is needed to determine the sustainable human population size and develop strategies for achieving it.'

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Human Population Growth

Human population growth refers to the increase in the number of individuals in a population over time. Over the past 200 years, this growth has accelerated due to factors such as advancements in medicine, agriculture, and sanitation, which have significantly reduced mortality rates and increased life expectancy. Understanding this growth is crucial for analyzing its implications on resources and the environment.

Density-Dependent Factors

Density-dependent factors are environmental influences that affect population growth in relation to the population's density. Examples include competition for resources, such as food and water, and the spread of diseases, which become more pronounced as population density increases. These factors can limit population growth by increasing mortality rates or decreasing birth rates when resources become scarce.

Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat. For humans, this concept raises questions about resource consumption, environmental impact, and sustainability. If the human population exceeds Earth's carrying capacity, it could lead to resource depletion, habitat destruction, and increased conflict over remaining resources.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Which of the following species is most likely to have a Type III survivorship curve?

a. Humans, Homo sapiens

b. Common lizards, Zootoca vivipara

c. Thale cress plants, Arabidopsis thaliana

d. Lynx cats, Lynx canadensis

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Textbook Question

According to the graph shown here, the carrying capacity for fruit flies in the environment of the culture bottle is .

a. 0 flies

b. 100 flies

c. 150 flies

d. Between 100 and 150 flies

e. Impossible to determine

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views

Textbook Question

The observation that members of a population are uniformly distributed suggests that

a. Resources are distributed unevenly.

b. The members of the population are competing for access to a resource.

c. The members of the population are neither attracted to nor repelled by one another.

d. The density of the population is low.

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Textbook Question

With regard to its rate of growth, a population that is growing logistically

a. Grows fastest when density is lowest

b. Has a high intrinsic rate of increase

c. Grows fastest at an intermediate population density

d. Grows fastest as it approaches carrying capacity

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Textbook Question

All of the following are density-dependent factors that can influence population size except

a. Weather

b. Food supply

c. Waste concentration in the environment

d. Infectious disease

e. Supply of suitable habitat for survival

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Textbook Question

In contrast to nonhuman populations, human population growth rates have begun to decline due to

a. Voluntarily increasing death rates

b. Voluntarily decreasing birth rates

c. Involuntary increases in death rates

d. Involuntary decreases in birth rates

e. Density-dependent factors

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Textbook Question

According to the logistic growth equation

$\frac{d N}{d t} = r N \frac{(K - N)}{K}$

a. The number of individuals added per unit time is greatest when N is close to zero.

b. The per capita population growth rate increases as N approaches K.

c. Population growth is zero when N equals K.

d. The population grows exponentially when K is small.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following represents a demographic transition?

a. A population switches from exponential to logistic growth

b. A population reaches a fertility rate of zero

c. There are equal numbers of individuals in all age groups

d. A population switches from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates

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