Deck 16: Population Ecology

Question 1

The number of individuals of the same species in some specified area or volume of habitat is the

A) population density.
B) population growth.
C) population birth rate.
D) population size.
E) carrying capacity.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Uniform distribution of human habitat would likely be the result of ____,whereas habitats of other animals would be due to ____.

A) competition; social interaction
B) community planning; competition
C) social interaction; chemical avoidance
D) limited mobility; contact inhibition
E) random chance; planning

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The most common form of population distribution arises from

A) an uneven distribution of resources.
B) limited dispersal ability.
C) asexual reproduction.
D) efforts to protect from predators.
E) all of these.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

____ is the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

A) Environmentalism
B) Demography
C) Ecology
D) Biogeography
E) Paleontology

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT related to the study of population demographics?

A) in a lake, there are 5 rainbow trout per 50 square meters
B) in Yellowstone National Park, there are approximately 3,000 American bison
C) African wild dogs live in packs distinct from each other and scattered through the savanna
D) cheetahs are most successful at catching gazelles
E) cacti grow in the desert more or less evenly spaced from each other

Question 6

Feces from Canadian geese can

A) soil shoes.
B) stain clothes.
C) pollute bodies of water.
D) cause infections.
E) cause all of these.

Question 7

To a person studying utilization of classroom space on campus,the most useful data concerning students in a classroom would be expressed by the number of

A) total individuals.
B) individuals per square meter.
C) individuals per room.
D) rooms per building.
E) students of each age.

Question 8

A population ecologist is study the demographics of American bison living on a grassland in North Dakota.She captures,marks,and releases 100 bison.Later,she recaptures 100 bison and discovers that 50 were previously marked and half of those marked are of reproductive age.What is the population ecologist's estimate of how many bison in the total population are of reproductive age?

A) 200
B) 50
C) 100
D) 20
E) 10

Question 9

Increasingly population density will most likely lead to which type of distribution pattern?

A) clumped
B) random
C) uniform
D) uniform and clumped
E) random and clumped

Question 10

If the effects of death are imposed on the birth rate of a population,

A) the growth rate will slow down.
B) the time scale of population growth changes.
C) eventually, as the environment is overexploited, deaths will exceed births.
D) an exponential growth curve will be produced if births exceed deaths at a constant level.
E) all of these will occur.

Question 11

The most common type of population distribution is

A) clumped.
B) uniform.
C) random.
D) near-uniform.
E) semi-random.

Question 12

In Michigan,the population of Canada geese changed from 9,000 to a population of ___ in 2008.

A) 3,000
B) 30,000
C) 300,000
D) 3,000,000
E) 30,000,000

Question 13

The number of individuals that make up a population gene pool is the

A) population distribution.
B) population growth.
C) population birth rate.
D) population size.
E) carrying capacity.

Question 14

A population ecologist wants to estimate the size of a robin population.In an apple orchard,she captures 10 robins,marks them,and then releases them.She returns several weeks later and captures another 10 robins of which 2 are robins she previously marked.The estimated population size of robins is

A) 50
B) 15
C) 10
D) 200
E) 20

Question 15

A group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific location is called a(n)

A) community.
B) population.
C) species.
D) genus.
E) biome.

Question 16

Which of the following situations would NOT result in a clumped population distribution?

A) zebras form herds to protect themselves from predators
B) oak seeds do not fall far from their parent tree
C) rotifer populations growing in a pond reproduce asexually
D) in a dense population, penguins maintain a certain space between neighborhoods to avoid aggression and protect their territory
E) all of these situations would result in a clumped population distribution

Question 17

In which type of population distribution would plot sampling be most accurate?

A) clumping
B) uniform
C) random
D) random and clumping
E) uniform and clumping

Question 18

Which of the following statements is accurate?

A) All Canada geese populations migrate.
B) All Canada geese breed where they were raised.
C) Like other migratory birds, Canada geese are protected by federal law.
D) When living together, migratory Canada geese do not interbreed with nonmigratory ones.
E) Nonmigratory Canada geese have more goslings (baby geese) than migratory geese.

Question 19

Which of the following focuses on vital statistics that describe the population?

A) ecostatistics
B) population ecology
C) demographics
D) biostatistics
E) community ecology

Question 20

Which of the following is true of a population?

A) Members of a population are all genetically identical.
B) Members of a population live together and interbreed.
C) A population may include both predators and prey.
D) Members of a population spend much of their time living apart.
E) More than one of these is true.

Question 21

In a population of Asian elephants,the death rate equals the birth rate.This population has

A) reached its biotic potential.
B) achieved zero population growth.
C) not exceeded its carrying capacity.
D) exponential growth.
E) geometric growth.

Question 22

Examine the figure above and answer the following question(s).
During phase "1",the size of the population of deer grow slowly because

A) predators eat fawns as they are born.
B) the number of breeding individuals is small.
C) the temperatures are relatively extreme.
D) the amount of food available is relatively scarce.
E) all of these occur.

Question 23

A population of 1,000 individuals with a per capita growth rate of 1.0 per year in an environment with unlimited resources will number ____ four years later.

A) 1,000
B) 1,400
C) 4,000
D) 16,000
E) 160,000

Question 24

Examine the figure above and answer the following question(s).
This figure describes a typical example of

A) biotic potential growth.
B) exponential growth.
C) logistic growth.
D) logarithmic growth.
E) density-dependent growth.

Question 25

A J-shaped growth curve is converted to an S-shaped one

A) when the parents are past reproductive age.
B) if the data is plotted in reverse.
C) when the carrying capacity is reached.
D) if reproduction is stopped.
E) only for fast-growing populations such as bacteria.

Question 26

Which of the following factors is NOT a density-independent factor?

A) earthquakes
B) snowstorms
C) competition
D) hurricanes
E) tsunamis

Question 27

Density-independent controls over population growth include

A) parasites.
B) temperature.
C) disease.
D) competition.
E) all of these.

Question 28

Which of the following models of growth takes place when the amount of available resources is not limiting?

A) arithmetic growth
B) logistic growth
C) logarithmic growth
D) exponential growth
E) exponential growth and arithmetic growth

Question 29

A change in a population that is NOT related strictly to the size of the population is best described as

A) density-dependent.
B) density-independent.
C) biotic.
D) logistic.
E) exponential.

Question 30

Limiting factors

A) produce more pronounced effects as a population grows.
B) prevent a population from producing a J-shaped curve.
C) can be either density-dependent or density-independent.
D) act together in concert to form the environmental resistance to population growth.
E) have all of these characteristics.

Question 31

An epidemic facilitated by a high,dense population is an example of a ___ factor.

A) density-dependent
B) density-independent
C) biotic
D) logistic
E) exponential

Question 32

Biotic potential

A) varies from one species to another.
B) is controlled by the timing of the first reproduction.
C) is controlled by the frequency of reproduction.
D) is controlled by the number of offspring produced.
E) is true of all of these.

Question 33

Population growth

A) is limited by only one factor at a time.
B) increases arithmetically.
C) increases indefinitely.
D) is limited by the carrying capacity.
E) is represented by a minimum of two different sizes.

Question 34

A population that is growing exponentially in the absence of limiting factors can be illustrated by which curve?

A) S-shaped
B) J-shaped
C) O-shaped
D) bimodal
E) skewed

Question 35

The maximum number of individuals of a species that a given environment can sustain indefinitely defines

A) the carrying capacity of the environment.
B) exponential growth.
C) the doubling time of a population.
D) the density-independent factors.
E) all of these.

Question 36

The carrying capacity of an environment is increased by

A) pollution.
B) predation.
C) disease.
D) population growth.
E) none of these.

Question 37

Examine the figure above and answer the following question(s).
During the third phase "3",the population growth slows and then levels off because

A) essential resources become scarce.
B) the carrying capacity has been reached.
C) competition for food becomes increasingly important.
D) predators eat fawns as they are born.
E) all of these occur except "predators eat fawns as they are born."

Question 38

In itself,a flood that washes away an entire population of rabbits is

A) a density-dependent factor.
B) an intrinsic limiting factor.
C) density-independent.
D) a consequence of exponential growth.
E) an example of a population reaching its carrying capacity.

Question 39

Examine the figure above and answer the following question(s).
During the second phase "2",the growth is ____ as long as resources are plentiful.

A) logical
B) logistical
C) arithmetic
D) exponential
E) analytical

Question 40

In a population growing exponentially,

A) the number of individuals added to the population next year is greater than the number added this year.
B) the population growth rate increases year after year.
C) net reproduction per individual increases year after year.
D) the number of individuals added to the population next year is greater than the number added this year, and the population growth rate increases year after year.
E) the number of individuals added to the population next year is greater than the number added this year, the population growth rate increases year after year, and net reproduction per individual increases year after year.

Question 41

Type I survivorship curves are typical of which of the following organisms?

A) horses
B) chimpanzees
C) mice
D) horses and chimpanzees
E) horses, chimpanzees, and mice

Question 42

As population density increases,the chance of ____ also increases.

A) pathogens
B) parasitism
C) predation
D) competition
E) all of these

Question 43

Type II survivorship curves

A) are characteristics of humans and elephants.
B) typify a population in which all ages have an equal chance of survival.
C) indicate a high mortality rate in the very young.
D) show that very few young are produced, that each is given parental support, and that most individuals live a relatively long life and die of old age.
E) are typical of annual plants.

Question 44

Which of the following is a density-dependent factor that would control the size of a population?

A) wind velocity
B) light intensity
C) resource availability
D) rainfall
E) wave action in an intertidal zone

Question 45

On Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean,from original population of 100 humans the population rose to around 3000.In time,the entire island was under cultivation and eventually the soils became so over cultivated that crops could no longer be grown.People started dying from starvation and disease.This Easter Island population had exceeded its

A) density-independent factors.
B) biotic potential.
C) logistic growth.
D) carrying capacity.
E) opportunistic life history.

Question 46

Life history patterns provide data concerning

A) expected life span.
B) reproductive age.
C) death rate.
D) birth rate.
E) all of these.

Question 47

A type III survivorship curve is characteristic of

A) dogs.
B) goats.
C) hawks.
D) clams.
E) horses.

Question 48

What is the major assumption of the exponential model of population growth?

A) resources are unlimited
B) organisms selectively choose their mates
C) the death rate equals the birth rate
D) biotic potential is limited
E) more than one of these is a major assumption of the exponential model

Question 49

In a population of 100 Douglas squirrels,the birth rate is 10 per year and the death rate is 20 per year.The per capita growth rate of Douglas squirrels is ___ per squirrel per year.

A) 0.2
B) 0.1
C) 0.0
D) -0.1
E) -0.2

Question 50

A study of a cohort of 1,000 newborn animals showed a death rate per individual in year one of 40 percent and a death rate per individual in year two of 80 percent.The quantity of survivors after two years is about

A) 120
B) 200
C) 320
D) 400
E) 1,000

Question 51

Which of the following species does NOT fit in the type III survivorship curve?

A) bees
B) humans
C) salamanders
D) snakes
E) goldfish

Question 52

A cohort is

A) a collection of same-aged individuals of the same species.
B) any member of the same species.
C) any member of the same species and sex within a population.
D) a sexual mate.
E) a litter mate or sibling within a large population.

Question 53

Type I survivorship curves

A) are characteristics of humans and elephants.
B) typify a population in which all ages have an equal chance of survival.
C) indicate a high mortality rate in the very young.
D) show that very few young are produced, that each is given parental support, and that most individuals live a relatively long life and die of old age.
E) are typical of annual plants.

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT a density-dependent,growth-limiting factor?

A) pathogens
B) parasitism
C) drought
D) competition
E) species interaction

Question 55

The exponential growth rate of a population under ideal conditions is its

A) carrying capacity.
B) logistic growth.
C) biotic potential.
D) realized niche.
E) density dependence.

Question 56

For a given population,life history pattern focuses on aspects such as

A) number of breeding events.
B) availability of resources.
C) climatic conditions.
D) quality of habitat.
E) all of these.

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT a factor in a life history?

A) rate of development
B) age at first reproduction
C) population density
D) life span
E) all of these are factors in a life history

Question 58

Killifish and pike-cichlids raised in natural conditions will

A) control the size of the guppies that live with them.
B) function as predators to guppies.
C) determine the growth rate of guppies.
D) control the evolution of size and color of the guppies.
E) do all of these.

Question 59

The birth rate in a population of 400 feral cats is 100 per year.The death rate in this same population is 40 per year.The per capita growth rate of this population of feral cats is ___ per cat per year.

A) .25
B) .1
C) .15
D) .4
E) 0

Question 60

Typically,members of a cohort are tracked

A) until they become independent.
B) until their breeding age.
C) for a period of time and then released in the environment to serve their purpose in the community.
D) from birth to death.
E) as long as they are in good health and serve the purpose of a study.

Question 61

Elephants can live for between 50 and 70 years and a cow (female elephant)typically gives birth to 3 or 4 calves.What type of survivorship curve applies to them?

A) type I
B) type II
C) type III
D) none of these types
E) more than one of these types

Question 62

Horses typically can live around 30 years and a healthy mare can produce one foal per year.Horses are __ species.

A) opportunistic
B) type I
C) K-selected
D) r-selected
E) more than one of these types of

Question 63

Jellyfish are as likely to die at one age as any other.Thus,a type ___ survivorship curve characterizes their life history.

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) more than one of these
E) none of these

Question 64

The leading cause of human death around the world is

A) heart disease.
B) cancer.
C) malnutrition and starvation.
D) war.
E) accidents.

Question 65

The most sustainable method for limiting human population growth is

A) decreasing birth rate.
B) increasing carrying capacity.
C) decreasing competition.
D) increasing death rate.
E) exploiting outer space.

Question 66

If all diseases are eradicated and food supply exceeds demand indefinitely,the human population on the planet earth will NOT continue to grow at an exponential rate indefinitely because

A) a new disease organism will evolve.
B) density-independent factors will always remove individuals.
C) space will become a limiting factor.
D) the few humans left will engage in war and kill each other.
E) all of these will occur.

Question 67

Which of the following is NOT a density-dependent limiting factor?

A) disease
B) parasitism
C) lack of living space
D) dramatic change in climate
E) all of these are density-dependent limiting factors

Question 68

In which demographic model is population growth the fastest?

A) pre-industrial
B) transitional
C) industrial
D) postindustrial
E) transformational

Question 69

If reproduction occurs early in the life cycle,what occurs?

A) Population growth rate increases.
B) Population size declines.
C) Population size is not affected.
D) Generation time increases.
E) Growth rate remains unchanged.

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT a factor that has led to a dramatic increase in the human population?

A) increase in the carrying capacity
B) increased reproductive life expectancy
C) human invasion of new habitats and climatic zones
D) a reversal from K-selected reproduction to r-selected reproduction
E) the development of public health and the germ theory of diseases

Question 71

Wheat is an annual plant that produces many seeds.Wheat is a __ species.

A) Type II
B) Type III
C) r-selected
D) K-selected
E) more than one of these

Question 72

Most octopuses die early in life; those that survive can live up to 5 years.Octopuses are best characterized by a type __ survivorship curve.

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) more than one of these
E) none of these

Question 73

Sea lions can live into their thirties and produce no more than one pup per year.A sea lion is a(an)__ species.

A) type II
B) opportunistic
C) K-selected
D) r-selected
E) type III

Question 74

The age-structure diagram for rapidly growing populations

A) is in the form of a pyramid.
B) is characterized by a large percentage of the population in the post-reproductive years.
C) has a very broad base, showing a large number of young.
D) has about equal distribution among all age groups.
E) is in the form of a pyramid and has a very broad base showing a large number of young.

Question 75

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the rapid explosion of the human population?

A) increase in carrying capacity
B) expansion into new habitat
C) removal of limiting factors
D) reproduction occurring earlier in the life cycle
E) longer generation times

Question 76

Modern humans evolved in ___ about ___ years ago.

A) Africa...43,000
B) Africa...200,000
C) Africa...2,000,000
D) Asia...43,000
E) Asia...200,000

Question 77

How much of Europe's population was wiped out by the Black Death?

A) 1/2
B) 1/3
C) 1/4
D) 1/5
E) 1/6

Question 78

What invention about 11,000 years ago led to a boom in the human population?

A) the wheel
B) agriculture
C) the printing press
D) the steam engine
E) all of these

Question 79

Guppies preyed upon by Killifish are __ species.

A) type I
B) K-selected
C) type II
D) r-selected
E) more than one of these types of

Question 80

E.coli is an intestinal bacterium that reproduces at a rate of every 20 minutes.E.coli is representative of a ___ species.

A) r-selected
B) K-selected
C) type I
D) logarithmic type-curve
E) more than one of these