Exam 13: Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Define the three components of the basic model of metapopulation dynamics, $\bar { p }$ = (1 - e/c). Explain one way in which conservation biologists can affect each of the variables e and c to protect a species.

Consider moose that breed in the fall and give birth in the spring. During breeding, the moose population is below carrying capacity, but once the young moose are born, the moose population far exceeds carrying capacity. This is an example of

Describe how the moose population has been "controlled" on Isle Royale since the early 1900s.

Consider these two populations, which exhibit variation in population size over time. In which population is the fluctuation most likely due to environmental variation, and in which population is fluctuation most likely due to density dependence? Explain your answer.

Which contributed to the decline and extinction of black-footed ferrets? I. Habitat destruction reduced carrying capacity of ferrets. II. Lethal diseases like canine distemper killed many ferrets. III. poisoning of prairie dogs.

Which is TRUE about damped oscillations? I. They are a pattern of population growth in which a population continues to exhibit large oscillations over time. II. They are a form of demographic stochasticity. III. They are expected to occur when $\tau$ = 1.

Consider a logistic model that includes a time delay in density dependence and exhibits damped oscillations. If the carrying capacity is increased but all other parameters remain the same, which of the following outcomes is most likely?

Which population model incorporates random variation in population growth?

Which is an example of the rescue effect? I. A small population of birds maintains a stable population size near carrying capacity. II. A population of mice in a low-quality habitat persists because of immigration from high-quality habitats. III. Habitat destruction reduces the quality of an environment and causes a population of lizards to decline every year until they go extinct.

Based on the figure, which year produced an unusually high number of offspring?

Metapopulations

What eventually occurs when the number of individuals in a population exceeds the population's carrying capacity?

A population that exceeds its carrying capacity will

Riverview has 200 individuals, Oak Park has 600 individuals, and Mountainside has 50 individuals. Rank the populations in order from the most likely to go extinct to the least likely. Explain your reasoning.

Based on the predictions of metapopulation biology, which scenario can be expected to exhibit the largest fraction of occupied habitat patches?

A species of grass is affected by the amount of rainfall in the spring. In years of high rain, the grass survives better than in years of low rain. This is an example of

Which of the following contributed to the success of conservation programs that reintroduced ferrets to the wild?

A group of subpopulations has independent population dynamics over space. This is an example of

Which of the following is NOT true about the 1911 St. Paul Island, Alaska, reindeer introduction?

A biologist is developing models to describe the population dynamics of the species he studies. Four models are listed. Each model is based on the logistic model, with r equal to 1 and K equal to 100. The initial population size is given by N₀. In which of his models of population growth would the population be most likely to go extinct?