Deck 19: Population Ecology

Question 1

The Endangered Species Act aims to help protect species that ________.

A)are in danger of extinction
B)dominate suitable habitats
C)compete with invasive species

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Species that exhibit an equilibrial life history typically ________.

A)have long lives
B)exhibit a Type III survivorship curve
C)exhibit a Type II survivorship curve
D)have a large number of offspring

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In an ideal, unlimited environment, a population's growth follows a(n)________ model.

A)exponential
B)density-dependent
C)logistic
D)boom-and-bust

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Over time, the populations of most species ________.

A)fluctuate
B)increase rapidly, crash, and never recover
C)continuously increase
D)exhibit boom-and-bust cycles

Question 5

According to the logistic growth model, what happens to a population when the size of the population reaches carrying capacity?

A)The growth rate increases.
B)The growth rate decreases.
C)The growth rate cannot be determined.
D)The growth rate is zero.

Question 6

An unexpected freeze that kills a population of chipmunks is an example of ________.

A)a density-independent factor
B)a biological control
C)a density-dependent factor
D)a population momentum

Question 7

Chinese privet is a plant that is native to China. Over 150 years ago, Chinese privet was introduced to the United States as a fast-growing shrub that serves as an excellent privacy hedge. With no natural herbivore, Chinese privet quickly established itself and spread in natural areas throughout the southeast and eastern seaboard of the United States. Its dominance in these areas has jeopardized the survival of native plant species. Chinese privet provides evidence that ________.

A)introducing non-native organisms can cause environmental damage
B)American gardeners can easily control the spread of Chinese privet
C)integrated pest management strategies will not decrease Chinese privet populations
D)non-native plant species have Type I survivorship curves

Question 8

Suppose a plane is forced to make an emergency landing on a desert island. The passengers must use the resources in their new environment to survive. The number of people who can survive depends on the availability of these resources. This is an example of ________.

A)population cycle
B)carrying capacity
C)life history pattern
D)survivorship curve

Question 9

Which option best describes Type III survivorship curves?

A)There is low survivorship for the very young.
B)Most individuals survive to older age intervals.
C)Survivorship is constant over the lifespan.
D)Survivorship is low for the few individuals that survive to a certain age.

Question 10

If there are 500 oak trees in a forest covering 50 square kilometers (km²), then the population density is ________.

A)5 trees per km²
B)10 trees per km²
C)50 trees per km²
D)100 trees per km²

Question 11

When forest areas are clear-cut for timber, spaces previously filled with trees become open areas that have full access to sunlight. Which plant populations would be best suited for this newly generated environment?

A)Those with low death rates.
B)Those that produce many offspring.
C)Those that have seeds with long maturation periods.
D)Those that reproduce once per lifetime.

Question 12

In an ideal, unlimited environment, what shape does a population's growth curve most closely resemble?

A)S
B)J
C)∧
D)∪

Question 13

Type I survivorship curves are typical of species that exhibit ________.

A)an intermediate number of offspring and an intermediate level of parental care
B)few offspring and good parental care
C)many offspring and good parental care
D)many offspring and poor parental care

Question 14

If a population's growth rate decreases as the population size approaches carrying capacity, the population's growth follows a(n)________ model.

A)exponential
B)boom-and-bust
C)logistic
D)density-independent

Question 15

In a population that is following a logistic growth pattern, what shape does the population's growth curve most closely resemble?

A)S
B)J
C)∧
D)∪

Question 16

Which is an example of a population?

A)a group of three species of lions that live in the same general area of a prairie at the same time
B)a group of lions of a single species that live in the same general area of a prairie at the same time
C)a group of three species of lions that live in the same general area of a prairie at different times
D)a group of lions of a single species that live in the same general area of a prairie at different times

Question 17

Which option best describes Type II survivorship curves?

A)There is high survivorship for the very young.
B)Most individuals survive to older age intervals.
C)Survivorship is constant over the lifespan.
D)Survivorship is high for the few individuals that survive to a certain age.

Question 18

Which of these factors operates on populations in a density-dependent manner?

A)blizzard
B)volcanic eruption
C)food supply
D)flood

Question 19

Competition among individuals of the same species for the same limited resources is ________ competition.

A)density-independent
B)intraspecific
C)Type II
D)Type III

Question 20

What is a characteristic of Type I survivorship curves?

A)There is low survivorship for the very young.
B)Most individuals survive to older age intervals.
C)Survivorship is constant over the lifespan.
D)Survivorship is high for the few individuals that survive to a certain age.

Question 21

Population growth is affected differently in dense versus sparse populations. When female bats raise their offspring, they form "maternity colonies" that are densely populated. In these populations, the female bats are so tightly packed together in one area that their bodies touch one another. Mites, a common parasite of bats, thrive in this type of environment because they can easily move from host to host. What might you predict would happen to the mite infection rate once the maternity colonies naturally break apart? The parasite population will ________.

A)demonstrate declined growth because greater distance between bats makes transmission of parasites more difficult
B)demonstrate exponential growth because greater distance between bats makes transmission of parasites more difficult
C)fluctuate between times of high growth rate and then low growth rate because individual parasites evolve to have an equilibrial life history
D)maintain a slow but steady growth rate because individual parasites will evolve feeding strategies that allow them to feed longer on individual bats

Question 22

Most crop pests ________.

A)have an opportunistic life history
B)have an equilibrial life history
C)exhibit type I survivorship
D)consist of long-lived individuals

Question 23

In most developed countries, overall population growth rates ________.

A)are high, so the population size is growing rapidly
B)are high, so the population size is fairly stable
C)are near zero, so the population size is fairly stable
D)are low, so the population size is declining

Question 24

The red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species, is dependent upon ________ for maintenance of its source habitat.

A)tall grasses
B)fire
C)floods
D)corn snakes

Question 25

Throughout most of human history, human population size ________.

A)was at carrying capacity
B)grew very slowly
C)showed boom-and-bust cycles
D)grew exponentially

Question 26

________ are an example of an invasive species.

A)red-cockaded woodpeckers
B)cod
C)snowshoe hares
D)Burmese pythons

Question 27

Integrated pest management ________.

A)favors overwhelming a pest with chemical pesticides
B)advocates total eradication of pest species
C)aims to keep pest populations on an exponential growth curve
D)advocates mixed-species plantings and rotating crops

Question 28

Weasels are a natural predator of bats. Since bats sleep during the day, weasels can climb to where they roost and feed on them. Suppose you want to design a study to see if weasels and bats demonstrate a boom and bust relationship in population size. What is the best first step to take?

A)Estimate the current population density of only the weasel species you plan to observe that live in one grassland area.
B)Estimate the number of weasels born each year in as many habitat areas as possible.
C)Estimate the current population densities of both the bat species and the weasel species you plan to observe in as many habitat areas as possible.
D)Estimate the number of bats eaten each day by weasels in one habitat area.

Question 29

The ecological footprint of the United States ________.

A)is about the same as the world average
B)is about two times lower than the world average
C)is almost three times higher than the world average

Question 30

The figure shows population cycles of snowshoe hare and lynx. Recent field studies suggest that the most likely explanation for these cycles is ________.

A)periodic winter storms
B)excessive predation of snowshoe hares
C)environmental disturbances including fire
D)usually hot and dry summers

Question 31

Non-native species can have important effects on biological communities by ________.

A)providing nutrients for growth to native species
B)competing with native species for resources
C)increasing biodiversity

Question 32

In 2012, the Global Footprint Network reported that ________.

A)the average ecological footprint for the world's population had already exceeded the planet's biocapacity per person
B)the average ecological footprint for the world's population was far below the planet's biocapacity per person
C)Earth can sustain a population about double the current population

Question 33

You arrive back in the United States after having visited a foreign country located on another continent. The customs agent stops the person in front of you and confiscates the fruit basket this person is bringing home. Being the knowledgeable person you are, you calmly explain to your enraged fellow traveler that the reason for the detainment is that the fruit basket may be ________.

A)carrying endangered fruit
B)carrying a non-native species that could damage North American ecosystems
C)contaminated with insecticides that will damage the ozone layer above North America
D)contaminated with sufficient DDT to cause serious harm to anyone who eats the fruit

Question 34

In most developing countries, ________.

A)birth rates equal death rates, so the population is fairly stable
B)birth rates are lower than death rates, so the population is declining
C)birth rates are lower than death rates, so the population is growing rapidly
D)birth rates are much higher than death rates, so the population is growing rapidly

Question 35

Kudzu, an Asian vine introduced to the United States in the 1930s as a means to control erosion, is referred to as "the plant that ate the South" because it grows alarmingly fast and overtakes most plant species in its path. A recent and unusual way that some people are using to control kudzu growth is to allow goats to graze their land and eat the kudzu, roots and all. This is considered by some to be the most environment-friendly way to eliminate this invasive vine. How can we best describe the goats in this situation?

A)a threatened species
B)an invasive species
C)a biological control agent
D)an integrated pest management agent

Question 36

During the Pleistocene era, many large mammal species went extinct. Their permanent disappearance occurred in a short period of time when humans were expanding across North America. In this situation, how do many scientists view humans?

A)as a threatened species
B)as a density-independent factor
C)as an invasive species
D)as a biological control agent

Question 37

The line in between the data points on the curve is a trend line; a trend line shows the general pattern of the data points. In the curve, the trend line indicates that male fur seals reached carrying capacity in the year ________.

A)1915
B)1930
C)1940
D)1950

Question 38

The intentional release of a natural enemy to attack a pest population is called ________.

A)biological control
B)sustainable resource management
C)integrated pest management

Question 39

What will be the approximate shape of the age-structure diagram of a rapidly increasing population?

A)a rectangle
B)a pyramid
C)an inverted pyramid
D)an hourglass

Question 40

The use of the Indian mongoose to control rat populations ________.

A)shows the effectiveness of biological control
B)shows why integrated pest management often fails
C)became a disaster when the mongoose turned out to be as invasive as its target
D)is an example of coevolution

Question 41

The virus introduced to the island in 1982 that reduced the wolf population is an example of ________.

A)a density-independent factor
B)a density-dependent factor
C)biological control
D)intraspecific competition

Question 42

Suppose a density-dependent factor acted on the fur seal population in 1940 such that it caused the population to crash. How would this be reflected in the trend line?

A)The trend line would stay as a flat line for at least another 50 years.
B)The trend line would display a sharp incline.
C)The trend line would display a sharp decline.

Question 43

Please read the following scenario to answer the following questions.
Michigan's Isle Royale is an island located in Lake Superior that is 45 miles long and 9 miles wide. Ecologists estimate that the moose population on the island has been there since approximately the year 1900. The wolf population on the island, on the other hand, has been there only since the winter of 1949. Weather conditions had to be calm and cold enough for the lake to freeze so that the first wolves could make the passage over to the island. When the wolves arrived, they were greeted with a large moose population that had no predators. The moose population was at a dangerously high level but was kept in check by the arrival of the wolves. This "harmonious" pattern continued for at least 20 years.
In 1982, the wolf population suddenly crashed because of a new canine virus believed to have been carried to the island carried on the shoe of a human traveler. While the wolf population size decreased from 50 to 14 individuals in a year, the moose population increased. However, the winter of 1996 was extremely harsh and the moose population experienced a major crash. More than 500 moose died during the winter months, reducing the population to less than 800 animals.
What most likely happened after the wolves first arrived on the island?

A)The wolf population increased exponentially.
B)The wolf population was at its carrying capacity.
C)The moose population crashed because of the introduction of a predator.
D)The moose population increased exponentially.

Question 44

Why might this changing population structure be a concern for EU leaders?

A)Eventually greater resources will be needed to support a much larger and older generation, and this burden will fall on an increasingly smaller workforce.
B)Eventually the EU population will exhibit a Type III survivorship curve.
C)Eventually intraspecific competition for resources amongst the older members of the population will lead to a decrease in food and water availability.
D)Eventually individuals of reproductive age will face a boom-and-bust population cycle.

Question 45

The figure shows three different ponds used by scientists to study if blocking access to the ponds would limit can toad invasion. Which pond was the control for the experiment?

A)Pond A
B)Pond B
C)Pond C

Question 46

Which possible description best matches this figure?

A)Dolphins produce only single offspring at a time and provide parental care for many months.
B)During "mating frenzies," male and female squid aggregate and release hundreds of eggs and sperm into the water column. The fertilized eggs are often quickly preyed on by fish.
C)The century plant grows for many years and reproduces and releases hundreds of seeds just once before it withers and dies. Because of the dry desert environment in which it lives, many of the seeds do not survive or are eaten.
D)In some species of lizards and rodents, survivorship is constant over the life span.

Question 47

Please read the following scenario to answer the following questions.
In May 2014, the European Union (EU)published a report of population structure and aging data that described growing trends of low birth rates and longer life expectancies in the EU. In their report, the EU described that due to these trends, some EU member states were beginning to demonstrate a population structure with many much-older individuals.
If this trend continues, what do you predict that the populations will look like as time progresses for 50 more years?

A)There will be more older individuals than working-age individuals.
B)There will be more children than older individuals.
C)There will be more older individuals than children.
D)There will be more working-age individuals than older ones.

Question 48

The harsh winter that led to the death of many moose in 1996 is an example of ________.

A)a density-dependent factor
B)biological control
C)a density-independent factor
D)a trigger for logistic growth

Question 49

During a 1-year study, a graduate student attempted to count the wolves and moose on the island. She estimated that there were 950 moose and 120 wolves. How many organisms, populations, and species were included in this study?

A)organisms = 2; populations = 1; species = 2
B)organisms = 1,070; populations = 1; species = 2
C)organisms = 2; populations = 2; species = 1,070
D)organisms = 1,070; populations = 2; species = 2

Question 50

Assume the three populations represent three populations of the same species of bird that all live in the same geographic area. All population sizes are equal, and data collected on the populations' growth rates all started on the same day. There are several plausible reasons why population C has the slowest growth rate. Choose the exception.

A)Population C started with the greatest number of birds in their reproductive prime.
B)Birds in Population C laid fewer eggs per clutch than in the other two populations.
C)Population C had greater numbers of natural predators in their niche than the other two populations.

Question 51

This figure depicts population growth for three different populations.
Which population is growing at the fastest rate?

A)Population A
B)Population B
C)Population C
D)They are all growing at the same rate.

Question 52

If all 3 populations occupy different areas that are approximately the same size, which population has the lowest density in year 5?

A)Population A
B)Population B
C)Population C
D)All three populations will have the same density.