Question 1

If most of the individuals of a human population are in their pre-reproductive years, you would expect the population size to ________ after 20 years.

Accepted Answer

A)  stay the same 
B)  increase 
C)  decrease 
D)  decrease and then stabilize 
A)  stay the same 
B)  increase 
C)  decrease 
D)  decrease and then stabilize B

Question 2

The pattern of distribution for a certain species of kelp is clumped. The pattern of distribution for a population of snails that live on the kelp would be

Accepted Answer

A)  clumped. 
B)  random. 
C)  uniform. 
A)  clumped. 
B)  random. 
C)  uniform. A

Question 3

According to this graph of population growth in Mexico, in what year was the rate of population increase in Mexico the greatest?

Accepted Answer

A)  1912 
B)  1930 
C)  1965 
D)  2000 
A)  1912 
B)  1930 
C)  1965 
D)  2000 C

Question 4

Which statement regarding logistic growth is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The parameter (K − N)/K is always equal to zero. 
B)  There has to be more than one limiting factor in place for logistic growth to occur. 
C)  Population growth is highest when the population is much larger than the carrying capacity. 
D)  Population growth is zero when (K − N)/K is equal to zero. 
A)  The parameter (K − N)/K is always equal to zero. 
B)  There has to be more than one limiting factor in place for logistic growth to occur. 
C)  Population growth is highest when the population is much larger than the carrying capacity. 
D)  Population growth is zero when (K − N)/K is equal to zero.

Question 5

Which statement about human population growth is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Human population size on Earth today is no longer changing and has effectively reached equilibrium. 
B)  Demographic transition is a transition from high birth rates and high death rates to low birth rates and low death rates. 
C)  During a demographic transition, birth rates typically drop first due to the availability of reliable contraception. 
D)  Human population size has increased faster and faster throughout human history. 
A)  Human population size on Earth today is no longer changing and has effectively reached equilibrium. 
B)  Demographic transition is a transition from high birth rates and high death rates to low birth rates and low death rates. 
C)  During a demographic transition, birth rates typically drop first due to the availability of reliable contraception. 
D)  Human population size has increased faster and faster throughout human history.

Question 6

A demographic tool used to predict a population's future growth is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  Type III survivorship curve. 
B)  demographic transition. 
C)  age structure diagram. 
D)  Type I survivorship curve. 
A)  Type III survivorship curve. 
B)  demographic transition. 
C)  age structure diagram. 
D)  Type I survivorship curve.

Question 7

Which organisms best illustrates K-selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  the production of thousands of eggs every spring by frogs 
B)  mice that produce three litters of 10-15 babies in the course of a summer 
C)  a polar bear producing one or two cubs every three years 
D)  a species of weed that quickly spreads into a region of cleared trees 
A)  the production of thousands of eggs every spring by frogs 
B)  mice that produce three litters of 10-15 babies in the course of a summer 
C)  a polar bear producing one or two cubs every three years 
D)  a species of weed that quickly spreads into a region of cleared trees

Question 8

An African family that has been displaced from their home by civil war is trying to select a new country in which to settle to gain better economic opportunities. Nigeria is a large country with rich natural resources, and the family is considering it for its new home. Among the data the family finds while researching Nigeria is the following diagram of the current age structure of the country.
  
-The age structure data for Nigeria shows that the country has many more individuals under the age of 15 than over the age of 40. What does this imply about the future population of Nigeria?

Accepted Answer

A)  The population will probably remain stable. 
B)  The population will probably decrease. 
C)  The population will probably grow rapidly. 
D)  The number of older people will probably increase rapidly. 
A)  The population will probably remain stable. 
B)  The population will probably decrease. 
C)  The population will probably grow rapidly. 
D)  The number of older people will probably increase rapidly.

Question 9

Which is an example of a population?

Accepted Answer

A)  all of the microorganisms on your skin 
B)  all of the students in your classroom 
C)  all students attending colleges and universities in your state 
D)  the various plants found in prairies in the western United States 
A)  all of the microorganisms on your skin 
B)  all of the students in your classroom 
C)  all students attending colleges and universities in your state 
D)  the various plants found in prairies in the western United States

Question 10

A group of individuals of a single species that occupy the same general area defines a

Accepted Answer

A)  population. 
B)  community. 
C)  subspecies. 
D)  clone. 
A)  population. 
B)  community. 
C)  subspecies. 
D)  clone.

Question 11

An r-selected species typically

Accepted Answer

A)  offers considerable parental care to a small number of offspring. 
B)  has an advantage in habitats that experience unpredictable disturbances. 
C)  is large-bodied, long-lived, and limited by density-dependent factors. 
D)  has an advantage in habitats that experience stable climates. 
A)  offers considerable parental care to a small number of offspring. 
B)  has an advantage in habitats that experience unpredictable disturbances. 
C)  is large-bodied, long-lived, and limited by density-dependent factors. 
D)  has an advantage in habitats that experience stable climates.

Question 12

According to this graph of the population growth of fur seals, in what year did the population first reach its carrying capacity?

Accepted Answer

A)  1925 
B)  1930 
C)  1940 
D)  1950 
A)  1925 
B)  1930 
C)  1940 
D)  1950

Question 13

A newly mated queen ant establishes an ant nest in an unoccupied patch of suitable habitat. The population of the nest grows quickly at first, then levels off at carrying capacity. Which of the following models best describes its population growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  linear 
B)  logarithmic 
C)  logistic 
D)  exponential 
A)  linear 
B)  logarithmic 
C)  logistic 
D)  exponential

Question 14

Guppies from Trinidad form two distinct populations that differ in several life history traits. These traits appear to relate to the local predator populations, pike-cichlids or killifish. Which experiments would best test the heritability of these traits?

Accepted Answer

A)  Raise both populations with cichlids to see if the population of smaller, faster-maturing guppies reproduces more quickly. 
B)  Raise both populations without predators to see if they maintain their life history traits. 
C)  Introduce cichlids into a habitat with killifish. 
D)  Provide additional food to the guppies from cichlid habitats to see if they will grow to the same size as guppies from the killifish habitat. 
A)  Raise both populations with cichlids to see if the population of smaller, faster-maturing guppies reproduces more quickly. 
B)  Raise both populations without predators to see if they maintain their life history traits. 
C)  Introduce cichlids into a habitat with killifish. 
D)  Provide additional food to the guppies from cichlid habitats to see if they will grow to the same size as guppies from the killifish habitat.

Question 15

A Type I survivorship curve is associated with which of the following life history traits?

Accepted Answer

A)  parents providing extended care for their young 
B)  large numbers of offspring being produced 
C)  infant mortality being much greater than adult mortality 
D)  a short life span for most individuals 
A)  parents providing extended care for their young 
B)  large numbers of offspring being produced 
C)  infant mortality being much greater than adult mortality 
D)  a short life span for most individuals

Question 16

The world human population

Accepted Answer

A)  is growing faster now than ever before. 
B)  is growing, but at a slower rate than in the last century. 
C)  has leveled off at carrying capacity. 
D)  is starting to become smaller in size. 
A)  is growing faster now than ever before. 
B)  is growing, but at a slower rate than in the last century. 
C)  has leveled off at carrying capacity. 
D)  is starting to become smaller in size.

Question 17

Which activity would result in a decrease in your ecological footprint?

Accepted Answer

A)  flying across the United States once a month 
B)  driving your car to and from school every day 
C)  leaving the water running while you brush your teeth 
D)  taking a city bus instead of driving to work 
A)  flying across the United States once a month 
B)  driving your car to and from school every day 
C)  leaving the water running while you brush your teeth 
D)  taking a city bus instead of driving to work

Question 18

An ecological footprint

Accepted Answer

A)  is a means of determining increases in populations that lived in the past. 
B)  is a means of understanding resource availability and usage. 
C)  measures dispersion and adaptability. 
D)  will estimate population movements. 
A)  is a means of determining increases in populations that lived in the past. 
B)  is a means of understanding resource availability and usage. 
C)  measures dispersion and adaptability. 
D)  will estimate population movements.

Question 19

An African family that has been displaced from their home by civil war is trying to select a new country in which to settle to gain better economic opportunities. Nigeria is a large country with rich natural resources, and the family is considering it for its new home. Among the data the family finds while researching Nigeria is the following diagram of the current age structure of the country.
  
-Based on the age structure of the country, what situation would be most likely to occur over the next 20 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  strong economic gains stimulated by population growth 
B)  an increased demand for resources based on population growth 
C)  a decreased demand for medical services due to the small number of elderly citizens 
D)  a decline in housing prices based on lack of demand 
A)  strong economic gains stimulated by population growth 
B)  an increased demand for resources based on population growth 
C)  a decreased demand for medical services due to the small number of elderly citizens 
D)  a decline in housing prices based on lack of demand

Question 20

A survivorship curve that shows a population producing very few offspring, each of which has a high probability of surviving to adulthood, is typical of

Accepted Answer

A)  sea stars. 
B)  elephants. 
C)  oysters. 
D)  rodents. 
A)  sea stars. 
B)  elephants. 
C)  oysters. 
D)  rodents.

Exam 36: Population Ecology

If most of the individuals of a human population are in their pre-reproductive years, you would expect the population size to ________ after 20 years.

The pattern of distribution for a certain species of kelp is clumped. The pattern of distribution for a population of snails that live on the kelp would be

According to this graph of population growth in Mexico, in what year was the rate of population increase in Mexico the greatest?

Which statement regarding logistic growth is true?

Which statement about human population growth is true?

A demographic tool used to predict a population's future growth is a(n)

Which organisms best illustrates K-selection?

Which is an example of a population?

A group of individuals of a single species that occupy the same general area defines a

An r-selected species typically

According to this graph of the population growth of fur seals, in what year did the population first reach its carrying capacity?

A newly mated queen ant establishes an ant nest in an unoccupied patch of suitable habitat. The population of the nest grows quickly at first, then levels off at carrying capacity. Which of the following models best describes its population growth?

Guppies from Trinidad form two distinct populations that differ in several life history traits. These traits appear to relate to the local predator populations, pike-cichlids or killifish. Which experiments would best test the heritability of these traits?

A Type I survivorship curve is associated with which of the following life history traits?

The world human population

Which activity would result in a decrease in your ecological footprint?

An ecological footprint

A survivorship curve that shows a population producing very few offspring, each of which has a high probability of surviving to adulthood, is typical of

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The Molecules of Cells

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Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food

The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance

Patterns of Inheritance

Molecular Biology of the Gene

How Genes Are Controlled

DNA Technology and Genomics

How Populations Evolve

The Origin of Species

Tracing Evolutionary History

Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists

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The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity

Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function

Nutrition and Digestion

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The Immune System

Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Reproduction and Embryonic Development

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How Animals Move

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Control Systems in Plants

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Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment

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