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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2:06 minutes

Problem 8

Textbook Question

Skyrocketing growth of the human population appears to be mainly a result of
a. A drop in death rate due to sanitation and health care
b. Better nutrition boosting the birth rate
c. The concentration of humans in cities
d. Social changes that make it desirable to have more children

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the problem: The question is asking about the primary reason for the rapid growth of the human population. This involves analyzing factors that influence population dynamics, such as birth rates, death rates, and societal changes.

Review the concept of population growth: Population growth is influenced by two main factors—birth rate (number of births per unit time) and death rate (number of deaths per unit time). A significant change in either can lead to population growth or decline.

Analyze the options: Option (a) refers to a drop in death rate due to improved sanitation and health care. Option (b) suggests better nutrition increasing the birth rate. Option (c) mentions urbanization (concentration of humans in cities). Option (d) points to social changes encouraging larger families.

Evaluate the most impactful factor: Historically, the skyrocketing growth of the human population has been closely linked to advancements in sanitation, medicine, and health care, which significantly reduced death rates, especially during the Industrial Revolution and beyond. This is more impactful than the other factors listed.

Conclude the reasoning: While better nutrition, urbanization, and social changes may contribute to population dynamics, the primary driver of rapid population growth is the reduction in death rates due to improved health care and sanitation, as stated in option (a).

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Key Concepts

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

Demographic Transition Model

The Demographic Transition Model describes the transition of a society from high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates as it develops economically. This model helps explain population growth patterns, particularly how improvements in sanitation and healthcare can lead to a decline in death rates, contributing to population surges.

Impact of Nutrition on Population Growth

Better nutrition plays a crucial role in population growth by enhancing overall health and increasing fertility rates. Improved access to food can lead to lower infant mortality rates and higher birth rates, as healthier individuals are more likely to reproduce successfully and raise healthy offspring.

Urbanization and Population Dynamics

Urbanization refers to the increasing concentration of populations in cities, which can influence birth rates and family size. In urban settings, social norms and economic factors often shift, leading to changes in reproductive behavior, such as delayed childbearing or preferences for smaller families, which can impact overall population growth.

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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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Explain why biologists want to maintain (a) 'habitat corridors' that connect populations in a metapopulation, and (b) unoccupied habitat that is appropriate for the species in question.

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Textbook Question

Populations that rely on stored resources are likely to overshoot the carrying capacity of the environment and consequently experience a(n).

a. Demographic momentum

b. Cultural carrying capacity

c. Decrease in death rates

d. Population crash

e. Exponential growth

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Textbook Question

During exponential growth, a population always

a. Has a constant per capita population growth rate

b. Quickly reaches its carrying capacity

c. Cycles through time

d. Loses some individuals to emigration

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Indicate what is correct and incorrect about this statement: If lizards want to survive during climate change, they can evolve new life-history traits.

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Textbook Question

The current carrying capacity of Earth for the human population may have been inflated by

a. Demographic momentum

b. The tendency for women to want to control family size

c. An artificially low number of density-independent factors

d. Our use of fossil fuels

e. Recent population crashes

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Textbook Question