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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3:24 minutes

Problem 3

Textbook Question

Scientific study of the population cycles of the snowshoe hare and its predator, the lynx has revealed that
a. Predation is the dominant factor affecting prey population cycling.
b. Hares and lynx are so mutually dependent that each species cannot survive without the other.
c. Both hare and lynx population sizes are affected mainly by abiotic factors.
d. The hare population is r-selected and the lynx population is K-selected.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of population cycles: Population cycles refer to the fluctuations in population size over time, often influenced by various factors including predation, resource availability, and environmental conditions.

Examine the role of predation: Predation can significantly impact prey populations by controlling their numbers. Consider how the lynx, as a predator, might affect the snowshoe hare population through predation.

Consider mutual dependence: Evaluate whether the snowshoe hare and lynx populations are interdependent, meaning that the survival of one species is closely linked to the presence of the other.

Analyze abiotic factors: Abiotic factors such as climate, habitat, and food availability can influence population sizes. Determine if these factors play a major role in the population cycles of hares and lynxes.

Differentiate between r-selected and K-selected species: r-selected species typically have high reproductive rates and short lifespans, while K-selected species have lower reproductive rates and longer lifespans. Assess whether the hare and lynx fit these descriptions.

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Key Concepts

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

Predation and Population Dynamics

Predation is a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey, significantly influencing the population dynamics of both species. In the context of the snowshoe hare and lynx, predation is a critical factor that can lead to cyclical fluctuations in their populations, as the predator's survival depends on the availability of prey, and vice versa.

R-selected and K-selected Species

R-selected species, like the snowshoe hare, are characterized by high reproductive rates, short generation times, and the ability to exploit unstable environments. In contrast, K-selected species, such as the lynx, tend to have lower reproductive rates, longer lifespans, and are adapted to stable environments where they compete for limited resources. These strategies affect how each species responds to environmental pressures.

Abiotic Factors in Population Ecology

Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical components of the environment, such as temperature, water availability, and habitat conditions, that can influence the population sizes of organisms. In the study of hare and lynx populations, understanding how these factors impact each species is crucial, as they can affect food availability, habitat suitability, and survival rates, thereby influencing population cycles.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

A population's carrying capacity

a. May change as environmental conditions change

b. Can be accurately calculated using the logistic growth model

c. Increases as the per capita population growth rate decreases

d. Can never be exceeded

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Textbook Question

The graph below shows the demographic transition for a hypothetical country. Many developed countries that have achieved a stable population size have undergone a transition similar to this. Answer the following questions concerning this graph.

a. What does the blue line represent? The red line?

b. This diagram has been divided into four sections.

Describe what is happening in each section.

c. In which section(s) is the population size stable?

d. In which section is the population growth rate the highest?

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Textbook Question

In what populations does exponential growth tend to occur?

a. Populations that colonize new habitats

b. Populations that experience intense competition

c. Populations that experience high rates of predation

d. Populations that have surpassed their carrying capacity

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Textbook Question

Explain why a decrease in population growth rate is expected as a nonhuman population approaches carrying capacity.

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Textbook Question

After seeds have sprouted, gardeners often pull up some of the seedlings so that only a few grow to maturity. How does this practice help produce the best yield?

a. By increasing K

b. By decreasing r

c. By reducing intraspecific competition

d. By adding a density-independent factor to the environment

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Textbook Question

If most individuals in a population are young, why is the population likely to grow rapidly in the future?

a. Death rates will be low.

b. The population has a skewed age distribution.

c. Immigration and emigration can be ignored.

d. Many individuals will begin to reproduce soon.