Deck 17: Population Ecology

Question 1

A population ecologist is studying 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

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A near-uniform population distribution is the result of ____.

A) social interaction
B) competition for resources
C) chemical avoidance
D) contact inhibition
E) planning

Answer 2

B

Question 3

​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

Answer 3

A

Question 4

​The rapid increase in the population of Canada geese in the United States can be primarily attributed to ____.

A) ​an increase of crop predation
B) ​a decrease in avian diseases
C) ​the suspension of hunting geese for many years
D) ​an increase in wetlands
E) ​an increase in the number of nonmigratory geese

Question 5

​The number of individuals that make up a population's gene pool is the ____.

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

Question 6

​​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

Question 7

​A patchy distribution of an essential resource leads to a(n) ____ population distribution.

A) ​clumped
B) ​random
C) ​uniform
D) ​exponential
E) ​logistic

Question 8

The distribution of individuals among various age categories defines a population's ________.

A) size
B) density
C) age structure
D) growth
E) range

Question 9

​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 10

​To a person studying utilization of cage space for lions in a zoo, the most useful data would be expressed by the number of ____.

A) ​total lions
B) ​lions per square foot
C) ​lions per cage per room
D) ​cages per zoo
E) ​lions of each age

Question 11

Which statement describes Canada geese populations?

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 individuals.
E) Nonmigratory Canada geese have more goslings (baby geese) than migratory geese.

Question 12

​Biotic potential ____.

A) ​can always be reached in the natural world
B) ​is independent of life history traits
C) ​is based on limited resources
D) ​would be indicated by an S-shaped curve
E) ​is a theoretical value based on conditions of unlimited resources

Question 13

Many species of terns nest on the ground in seabird colonies. However, if nests are too close together, aggression will break out. This tends to produce a(n) ____.

A) near-uniform population distribution
B) opportunity for predation
C) clumped population distribution
D) opportunity for exponential growth
E) random population distribution

Question 14

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

A) ​has reached its biotic potential
B) ​is not growing
C) ​has not exceeded its carrying capacity
D) ​is experiencing exponential growth
E) ​is experiencing survivorship growth

Question 15

Which group describes 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) Members of a population can live in two geographic areas.

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

​The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment is known as ____.

A) ​environmentalism
B) ​demography
C) ​ecology
D) ​biogeography
E) ​paleontology

Question 18

The most common type of population distribution is ____.

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

Question 19

​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 20

​If the death rate of a population exceeds the birth rate of a population, ____.

A) ​the growth rate will remain static
B) ​the population will grow
C) ​the environment will become overexploited
D) ​an exponential growth curve will result
E) ​the population will decrease in size

Question 21

In general, 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 22

Type I survivorship curves ____.​

A) ​are characteristics of mice and other rodents
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 23

Which growth model occurs 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 24

A type III survivorship curve is characteristic of ____.​

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

Question 25

An epidemic facilitated by a high, dense population is an example of a(n) ____ factor.​

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

Question 26

Rabbits were introduced to Australia in the eighteenth century. There were no other rabbits in Australia, and there were no natural predators for the rabbits. It is likely that their population experienced ____.

A) per capita birth rate
B) logistic growth
C) exponential growth
D) sudden death
E) density independence

Question 27

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) density-dependent factors
E) density-independent factors

Question 28

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 29

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 30

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 31

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) Density-dependent factors are at work.

Question 32

Which element is a density-dependent factor that controls the size of a population?​

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

Question 33

​Which is a density-independent factor?

A) competition​
B) ​predation
C) ​earthquakes
D) ​parasitism
E) ​disease

Question 34

Type I survivorship curves are typical of ____.​

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

Question 35

A flood that washes away an entire population of rabbits is a(n) ____.​

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

Question 36

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 37

Limiting factors to population growth ____.​

A) produce less pronounced effects as a population grows​
B) ​tend to increase population growth
C) ​are the same as the biotic potential
D) ​raise the carrying capacity to a higher level
E) ​prevent a population from producing a J-shaped growth curve

Question 38

A change in a population that is related strictly to its size is best described as ____.​

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

Question 39

On Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, the population rose to 3,000 people from the original population of 100. In time, the entire island was cultivated, and eventually, the soils became so overcultivated 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 40

Density-independent controls over population growth include ____.​

A) ​parasites
B) ​temperature
C) disease​
D) ​competition
E) ​predation

Question 41

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 42

Which type of growth curve is pictured for the accompanying photo of a desert shrub?

A) type II
B) logistic
C) type I
D) exponential
E) type III

Question 43

In India, which age structure category holds the least number of individuals?​

A) ​pre-reproductive
B) ​early reproductive
C) late reproductive​
D) early post-reproductive​
E) ​late post-reproductive

Question 44

Which important discovery in the early 1900s enhanced food production, thus increasing human population growth?​

A) cultivation of rice​
B) ​cultivation of wheat
C) ​the wheel
D) ​synthetic fertilizer
E) ​penicillin

Question 45

The highest number of individuals in the United States are in the ____ age structure category.​

A) pre-reproductive​
B) ​early reproductive
C) ​late reproductive
D) ​early post-reproductive
E) ​late post-reproductive

Question 46

In which demographic model is population growth the fastest?

A) preindustrial
B) transitional
C) industrial
D) postindustrial
E) transformational

Question 47

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

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

Question 48

A house mouse has a(n) ____.

A) type II population curve
B) K-selected life history
C) type I population curve
D) opportunistic life history
E) equilibrial life history

Question 49

The countries of ____ and ____ have the world's highest human populations.​

A) India; China​
B) ​China; United States
C) ​China; Brazil
D) ​India; United States
E) ​United States; Canada

Question 50

Which type of survivorship curve is pictured here for Dall sheep?

A) type II
B) logistic
C) type I
D) exponential
E) type III

Question 51

E. coli is an intestinal bacterium that reproduces every 20 minutes. E. coli is representative of a(n) ____ species.

A) r-selected
B) K-selected
C) type I
D) logarithmic type-curve
E) type IV

Question 52

​ Letter "B" designates the ____, which allowed for an increase in human population growth. a.bubonic plague
B)domestication of plants and animals
C)industrial and scientific revolutions
D)discovery of America
E)emergence of agriculturally based urban societies

Question 53

​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) the written language​

Question 54

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

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

Question 55

If reproduction occurs early in the life cycle, ____.​

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 56

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 57

The age structure diagram for rapidly growing populations ____.

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

Question 58

​ The steep increase in human population at point "C" indicates the beginning of the ____. a.bubonic plague
B)domestication of plants and animals
C)industrial and scientific revolutions
D)discovery of America
E)emergence of agriculturally based urban societies

Question 59

Resource consumption tends to ____ with economic and industrial development.​

A) ​remain balanced
B) decrease​
C) ​remain stable
D) ​rise
E) ​keep pace

Question 60

Killifish preferentially prey upon small, young guppies. This leads to selective pressure for the guppy population to ____.​

A) evolve an equilibrial life history​
B) ​learn to evade predators while young
C) ​reduce the number of offspring
D) ​put energy into growth rather than reproduction
E) ​put energy into reproduction rather than growth

Question 61

Match the terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.density-dependent factor
b.demographic transitional stage
c.type I survivorship
d.r-selected species
e.biotic potential
f.density-independent factor
g.logistic growth
long life spans, few offspring, extended care of young

Question 62

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
a portion of a population to be studied

Question 63

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
the number of individuals added during some interval divided by the initial population size

Question 64

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
the number of organisms of a particular population in a given area

Question 65

Matching
Match the following figures with the most appropriate statement.
a. C. D. B. E. ​
​
a.A
b.B
c.C
d.D
e.E
​survivorship curve; mortality is highest among young individuals

Question 66

​It has been estimated that if everyone in the world had the same lifestyle as the average American, it would require ____ more Earths.

A) ​one
B) ​two
C) ​three
D) ​four
E) ​five

Question 67

Matching
Match the following figures with the most appropriate statement.
a. C. D. B. E. ​
​
a.A
b.B
c.C
d.D
e.E
​survivorship curve; mortality is highest in the oldest individuals

Question 68

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
the number of individuals in some specified area or volume of a habitat

Question 69

​Which country has the biggest ecological footprint?

A) ​France
B) United States​
C) ​China
D) ​India
E) ​Canada

Question 70

Match the terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.density-dependent factor
b.demographic transitional stage
c.type I survivorship
d.r-selected species
e.biotic potential
f.density-independent factor
g.logistic growth
this describes a population that grows slowly at first and then increases rapidly until it reaches carrying capacity

Question 71

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
the study of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment

Question 72

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
model for population growth when resources are unlimited

Question 73

Matching
Match the following figures with the most appropriate statement.
a. C. D. B. E. ​
​
a.A
b.B
c.C
d.D
e.E
​survivorship curve; mortality does not vary with age

Question 74

India is in which demographic transitional stage?​

A) ​birth and death rates equally high; growth rate low
B) ​death rate dropping fast; birth rate declining but slowly
C) ​birth rates declining and approaching the death rates
D) birth rate falling below death rate; population size decreasing​
E) ​death rate greatly exceeds birth rate; population is close to extinction

Question 75

Matching
Match the following figures with the most appropriate statement.
a. C. D. B. E. ​
​
a.A
b.B
c.C
d.D
e.E
​opportunistic life history

Question 76

Matching
Match the following figures with the most appropriate statement.
a. C. D. B. E. ​
​
a.A
b.B
c.C
d.D
e.E
​equilibrial life history

Question 77

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
statistics that describe a population

Question 78

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
method for estimating numbers of mobile animals

Question 79

Which country has the smallest ecological footprint?​

A) Mexico​
B) ​China
C) ​United States
D) ​India
E) ​Canada

Question 80

Match the following terms with the most appropriate statement.
a.population size
b.population density
c.population distribution
d.demographics
e.ecology
f.per capita growth rate
g.exponential
h.mark-recapture
i.sample
describes where individuals in a population are relative to one another