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Introduction to Population Ecology quiz #2

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  • What is an example of a density-independent factor that can affect the size of a human population?
    Natural disasters
  • Which species is most likely to exhibit clumped dispersion? A) Wolves B) Birds C) Dandelions D) Humans
    A) Wolves
  • What method involves counting the number of organisms in a specific area?
    Quadrat sampling
  • What level of ecology is concerned with groups of individuals of the same species?
    Population ecology
  • Which statement best describes population growth patterns in the world today? A) Exponential growth B) Logistic growth C) Declining growth D) Stable growth
    A) Exponential growth
  • What is an example of a population?
    All the humans in a city
  • What can you predict about a population with an age-structure diagram shaped like a pyramid?
    The population is likely to experience rapid growth.
  • What is the term used for the pattern of spacing of a population within an area?
    Dispersion
  • What condition would lead to a small population size?
    High death rate
  • What are the three common patterns of population distribution?
    Clumped, uniform, and random
  • What happens to the birth rate and death rate of a population at carrying capacity?
    Birth rate equals death rate
  • What effect do competition and predation have on population size?
    They can decrease population size by increasing mortality and reducing resources.
  • How does population distribution differ from population density?
    Population distribution refers to the pattern of spacing among individuals, while population density is the number of individuals per unit area.
  • What best explains snowshoe hare–lynx population cycles?
    Predator-prey interactions and resource availability
  • How do age-structure diagrams predict the growth of a population?
    They show the distribution of various age groups, indicating potential for growth based on the proportion of young individuals.
  • How is a clumped population distribution beneficial for prey animals?
    It provides safety in numbers, reducing individual predation risk.
  • What is an example of a species with high biotic potential?
    Mice
  • What are the three types of survivorship curves?
    Type I, Type II, and Type III
  • How would an ecologist calculate the future size of a population?
    By using models that incorporate birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.
  • What do age structure diagrams show about a population?
    They show the distribution of age groups
  • How do humans impact the carrying capacity of a population?
    Humans can increase carrying capacity through technology and resource management, but can also decrease it through overconsumption and environmental degradation.
  • What is an example of a population in an ecological context?
    All the wolves in Yellowstone
  • What is a good example of a population?
    All the humans in a city
  • Which change would cause an increase in the size of a population? A) Increased birth rate B) Increased death rate C) Increased emigration D) Decreased immigration
    A) Increased birth rate
  • What factor contributes to clumped spacing patterns in populations?
    Social behavior
  • How is a population defined in ecology?
    A group of the same species in an area
  • Which is an example of a density-independent factor on a population? A) Disease B) Predation C) Natural disaster D) Competition
    C) Natural disaster
  • What factor is most likely to contribute to density-dependent regulation of populations?
    Predation
  • What does population distribution refer to?
    The pattern of spacing among individuals within a population.
  • What are survivorship curves?
    Graphs that show the number or proportion of individuals surviving at each age for a given species or group.
  • Which has a greater biotic potential- humans or mice? Why?
    Mice have a greater biotic potential because they reproduce more quickly and have larger litters.
  • How many different trends do you see on a survivorship curve?
    Three trends: Type I, Type II, and Type III
  • What do survivorship curves display?
    They display the number or proportion of individuals surviving at each age for a given species or group.
  • What is an example of a Type III survivorship curve?
    Frogs
  • What does this survivorship curve indicate about frogs?
    Frogs have a high mortality rate early in life, with few individuals reaching adulthood.
  • What is the top-down hypothesis to explain the cyclic nature of snowshoe hare populations?
    Predation by lynx and other predators controls hare population cycles.
  • What causes populations to compete?
    Limited resources such as food, space, and mates.
  • What does a survivorship curve show?
    It shows the number or proportion of individuals surviving at each age for a given species or group.
  • What defines a population distribution?
    The pattern of spacing among individuals