Exam 11: Population Distributions

Answer: -Imagine that you are conducting a mark-recapture survey of common pill bugs (Armadillidium vulgare), a terrestrial isopod, in a field. Unbeknownst to you, the majority of the pill bugs molt between marking and recapturing. How does this affect your estimate of the population size? How could you have foreseen this? How could you prevent this in the future?

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Question 1

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[Various answers are possible] Based on the equation for estimating population size using mark-recapture surveys, if the number of recaptured and marked (R) individuals was very small compared to the original number, the population estimate would be much higher than the actual population size (overestimation). To avoid this problem you could do a side experiment in which pill bugs captured at the same time as the original capture were placed in some type of contained terrarium to see what happened to marked pill bugs over the course of the study. You could also research the interval between molting and try to time the survey between molts.
Population abundance and density are related to geographic range and adult body size

Measuring the lifetime dispersal distance of a species helps scientists to estimate how rapidly a growing population can increase its

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Researchers used an experimental design in which they cleared large patches of pine forest from five areas. The central cleared area served as the source of dispersers. The four remaining cleared patches were (1) a rectangular unconnected patch, (2) a rectangular patch connected to the central patch with a cleared path that served as a corridor, (3) two rectangular patches with wings (patches with corridors that did not connect to other patches). The researchers were interested in the importance of habitat corridors to the movement of seeds, pollen, and butterflies between central and peripheral habitat patches. What was the purpose of planting male winterberry plants in central patches and female winterberry plants in peripheral patches? Based on the results, what would you conclude about the importance of habitat corridors?

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Question 3

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The purpose of planting male winterberry plants in central patches and female winterberry plants in peripheral patches was to track the movement of plant pollen by seeing if the female winterberry became fertilized. Based on the results of this experiment, the presence of connected habitat corridors increased the movement of butterflies, seeds, and pollen between patches.
Many populations live in distinct patches of habitat

When there are direct interactions among individuals in a population, _____ dispersion is favoured.

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Question 4

The pattern of density and spacing of individuals in a population is called the

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Question 5

Why does reduction of a population lead to decreased geographic range?

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Question 6

Compare and contrast the terms dispersion and dispersal.

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Question 7

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an insect from eastern Asia that has invaded North America. The larvae of the emerald ash borer consume the cambium and phloem under the bark of American ash trees and eventually kill the trees. How can biologists predict the spread of this invasive pest? What might explain why the emerald ash borer is more of a problem in North America than in its native range?

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Question 8

Which of the following populations would be best estimated by an area-based survey?

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Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a source subpopulation?

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Question 10

(Figure 11.14) Researchers used an experimental design in which they cleared large patches of pine forest in five areas. The central cleared area served as the source of dispersers. The four remaining cleared patches were (1) a rectangular unconnected patch, (2) a rectangular patch connected to the central patch by a cleared path that served as a corridor, (3) two rectangular patches with wings (patches with corridors that did not connect to other patches). The researchers were interested in the importance of habitat corridors to the movement of seeds, pollen, and butterflies between central and peripheral habitat patches. What was the purpose of the unconnected winged patches?

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Question 11

A researcher counts the number of individuals of a tree species between two fixed points is making a(n) _____ survey.

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Question 12

Methods such as area-based, volume-based, and line-transect surveys would be best for estimations of _____ populations.

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Question 13

Which of the following does NOT explain why an ideal free distribution might not be achieved in nature?

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Question 14

In populations that fit a source-sink metapopulation model, organisms in _ subpopulations disperse into _ subpopulations.

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Question 15

(Figure 11.5) Researchers examined data collected between 1985 and 2006 on diversity of fish in the North Sea, average bottom temperatures, and how species diversity was affected by temperature. According to the figure, what did they find? What did they conclude about the cause of the change in fish diversity?

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Question 16

Scientists commonly use _____ dispersal distance to quantify an organism's dispersal.

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Question 17

When individuals have perfect knowledge of habitat variation and distribute themselves in a way that allows all of them to have the same per capita benefit, they display a(n) _____ free distribution.

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Question 18

What type of dispersion do many agricultural crops exhibit?

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Question 19

How do dispersal and migration differ?

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Question 20

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Measuring the lifetime dispersal distance of a species helps scientists to estimate how rapidly a growing population can increase its

When there are direct interactions among individuals in a population, _____ dispersion is favoured.

The pattern of density and spacing of individuals in a population is called the

Why does reduction of a population lead to decreased geographic range?

Compare and contrast the terms dispersion and dispersal.

Which of the following populations would be best estimated by an area-based survey?

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a source subpopulation?

A researcher counts the number of individuals of a tree species between two fixed points is making a(n) _____ survey.

Methods such as area-based, volume-based, and line-transect surveys would be best for estimations of _____ populations.

Which of the following does NOT explain why an ideal free distribution might not be achieved in nature?

In populations that fit a source-sink metapopulation model, organisms in _ subpopulations disperse into _ subpopulations.

Scientists commonly use _____ dispersal distance to quantify an organism's dispersal.

When individuals have perfect knowledge of habitat variation and distribute themselves in a way that allows all of them to have the same per capita benefit, they display a(n) _____ free distribution.

What type of dispersion do many agricultural crops exhibit?

How do dispersal and migration differ?

Introduction: Ecology, Evolution, and the Scientific Method

Adaptations to Aquatic Environments

Adaptations to Terrestrial Environments

Adaptations to Variable Environments

Climates and Soils

Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes

Evolution and Adaptation

Life Histories

Reproductive Strategies

Social Behaviours

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Community Structure

Community Succession

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology, Biogeography, and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

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Exam 11: Population Distributions

Measuring the lifetime dispersal distance of a species helps scientists to estimate how rapidly a growing population can increase its

When there are direct interactions among individuals in a population, _____ dispersion is favoured.

The pattern of density and spacing of individuals in a population is called the

Why does reduction of a population lead to decreased geographic range?

Compare and contrast the terms dispersion and dispersal.

Which of the following populations would be best estimated by an area-based survey?

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a source subpopulation?

A researcher counts the number of individuals of a tree species between two fixed points is making a(n) _____ survey.

Methods such as area-based, volume-based, and line-transect surveys would be best for estimations of _____ populations.

Which of the following does NOT explain why an ideal free distribution might not be achieved in nature?

In populations that fit a source-sink metapopulation model, organisms in _____ subpopulations disperse into _____ subpopulations.

Scientists commonly use _____ dispersal distance to quantify an organism's dispersal.

When individuals have perfect knowledge of habitat variation and distribute themselves in a way that allows all of them to have the same per capita benefit, they display a(n) _____ free distribution.

What type of dispersion do many agricultural crops exhibit?

How do dispersal and migration differ?

Introduction: Ecology, Evolution, and the Scientific Method

Adaptations to Aquatic Environments

Adaptations to Terrestrial Environments

Adaptations to Variable Environments

Climates and Soils

Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes

Evolution and Adaptation

Life Histories

Reproductive Strategies

Social Behaviours

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Community Structure

Community Succession

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology, Biogeography, and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

Filters

In populations that fit a source-sink metapopulation model, organisms in _ subpopulations disperse into _ subpopulations.