Question 1

What is one reason for a population to overshoot its carrying capacity and crash?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;due to a gradual increase in available habitat&#160;&#10;B)&#160;due to a gradual increase in available food resources&#160;&#10;C)&#160;due to a reproductive time lag involving the birth rate and death rate of the population&#160;&#10;D)&#160;due to changes in the gene pool of a population

Accepted Answer

A reproductive time lag involves a delay in population growth due to a time delay between the birth rate and death rate of a population. This means that even though the population may have already exceeded its carrying capacity, it takes time for the population growth to slow down and reach equilibrium. As a result, the population can overshoot its carrying capacity and crash. Gradual increases in available habitat or food resources may temporarily increase the carrying capacity of a population, but without an equal increase in population regulation, the population can still overshoot and crash. Changes in the gene pool can affect the genetics of a population and potentially reduce its fitness, but this is not directly related to overshooting carrying capacity.

Question 2

Which of the following is among the age structure categories?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;proreproductive&#160;&#10;B)&#160;reproductive&#160;&#10;C)&#160;elderly&#160;&#10;D)&#160;antireproductive

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

Which statement does NOT apply to whooping cranes?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;As of 2006, just over 330 individuals existed in the wild.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;One population resides in Canada's Wood Buffalo National Park during the summer.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;Hunting, egg collection, and habitat loss took tolls on the population.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;All whooping cranes are migratory.

Accepted Answer

Not all whooping cranes are migratory. There is a non-migratory population that resides year-round in Florida.

Question 4

What would be unlikely to influence carrying capacity?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;resources&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a rain shower&#160;&#10;C)&#160;disease&#160;&#10;D)&#160;predation

Accepted Answer

A rain shower is unlikely to influence carrying capacity because it is a temporary and short-term event that does not significantly affect the availability of resources, disease, or predation pressure in the long run. The carrying capacity of a population is primarily determined by the abundance and quality of resources, as well as by the level of pressures from biotic and abiotic factors such as predation and disease.

Question 5

What leads to population growth?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;increases in mortality&#160;&#10;B)&#160;increases in environmental resistance&#160;&#10;C)&#160;increases in biotic potential&#160;&#10;D)&#160;decreases in natality

Accepted Answer

Population growth is primarily driven by increases in biotic potential, which refers to an organism's ability to produce offspring. When biotic potential increases, the number of births in a population goes up, leading to population growth. Increases in mortality (A) and environmental resistance (B) typically have the opposite effect, reducing population growth rates. Decreases in natality (D) would also reduce population growth rates.

Question 6

When does a population crash occur?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It occurs when a population overshoots carrying capacity, and environmental pressures lead to negative effects.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It occurs when a population approaches its carrying capacity.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It occurs when environmental resistance comes into play gradually.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It occurs when resources are essentially unlimited.

Accepted Answer

A population crash occurs when a population exceeds its carrying capacity, and environmental pressures lead to negative effects such as lack of resources, disease, and increased competition. As a result, the population experiences a sudden and rapid decline.

Question 7

Which factor leads to an increase in biotic potential?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;too much or too little light&#160;&#10;B)&#160;too many competitors&#160;&#10;C)&#160;an optimal level of critical nutrients&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a low reproductive rate

Accepted Answer

An optimal level of critical nutrients can lead to an increase in biotic potential, as it allows organisms to have the necessary resources for growth and reproduction. Too much or too little light (A) and too many competitors (B) can limit growth and reproduction. A low reproductive rate (D) would not lead to an increase in biotic potential.

Question 8

What is carrying capacity?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;the interaction of natality and mortality&#160;&#10;B)&#160;the proportion of males to females&#160;&#10;C)&#160;the maximum size of population that the environment will support&#160;&#10;D)&#160;the reproductive rate

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals that a particular environment can sustainably support, given its available resources and other constraints. This is influenced by factors such as food availability, habitat quality, disease, competition, and predation. It represents the upper limit of population size that can be maintained over the long-term without degrading the environment or causing population crashes. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Choice A is incorrect because the interaction of natality (birth rate) and mortality (death rate) determines the growth rate of a population, but it does not reflect the constraints of the environment.

Choice B is also incorrect because sex ratio (the proportion of males to females) can affect reproductive success and sexual selection, but it does not directly relate to carrying capacity.

Choice D is incorrect because reproductive rate alone does not consider the availability of resources and other limiting factors that affect the population size.

Question 9

Which letter has the shape of a logistic growth curve that depicts a population limited by a definite carrying capacity?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;S&#160;&#10;B)&#160;L&#160;&#10;C)&#160;J&#160;&#10;D)&#160;M

Accepted Answer

The logistic growth curve has an S-shape, starting with slow growth, followed by rapid growth, and then tapering off to a plateau as the population reaches its carrying capacity. The carrying capacity represents the maximum number of individuals that can be supported by the environment, and the S-shape of the curve symbolizes how growth becomes limited as the population approaches this capacity. Therefore, the letter S is the best choice that describes a logistic growth curve limited by a definite carrying capacity.

Question 10

How have humans extended Earth's carrying capacity for the human species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;by controlling many diseases&#160;&#10;B)&#160;by using material resources at a sustainable rate&#160;&#10;C)&#160;by decreasing life span&#160;&#10;D)&#160;by using energy resources at a reduced rate

Accepted Answer

Humans have extended Earth's carrying capacity by controlling many diseases through vaccinations and advancements in medical technology. This has allowed for a larger human population to survive and thrive on Earth. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately reflect ways in which humans have extended Earth's carrying capacity.

Question 11

What enhances environmental resistance?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;the ability to resist disease and parasites&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a high reproductive rate&#160;&#10;C)&#160;a specialized niche&#160;&#10;D)&#160;the ability to compete for resources

Accepted Answer

The answer of What enhances environmental resistance?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;the ability to resist...

Question 12

Which prediction is logical for a species in which uniform dispersion has been observed?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;intraspecific competition and evenly spread, scarce resources&#160;&#10;B)&#160;intraspecific competition and evenly spread, abundant resources&#160;&#10;C)&#160;interspecific competition and evenly spread, abundant resources&#160;&#10;D)&#160;interspecific predation and evenly spread, scarce resources

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which prediction is logical for a species...

Question 13

Which natural pattern of population dispersion is associated with the majority of species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a uniform pattern&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a clumped pattern&#160;&#10;C)&#160;a random pattern&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a dispersed pattern

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which natural pattern of population dispersion is...

Question 14

Which term is synonymous with changes in population size,density,dispersion,and age structure?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;demography&#160;&#10;B)&#160;biotic potential&#160;&#10;C)&#160;Succession&#160;&#10;D)&#160;population dynamics

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term is synonymous with changes in...

Question 15

What is the biotic potential of a population?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is the current growth rate of a population.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It is an expression of how many offspring survive and are able to reproduce.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It is the maximum reproductive rate of a population.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It can be determined only by studying an age structure diagram.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the biotic potential of a...

Question 16

Which letter has the shape of an exponential growth curve that depicts an ever-growing population?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;M&#160;&#10;B)&#160;L&#160;&#10;C)&#160;S&#160;&#10;D)&#160;J

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which letter has the shape of an...

Question 17

What determines biotic potential?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;the reproductive age span&#160;&#10;B)&#160;how many offspring die before reproducing&#160;&#10;C)&#160;the minimum viable population&#160;&#10;D)&#160;irruptive populations

Accepted Answer

The answer of What determines biotic potential?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;the reproductive age span&#160;&#10;B)&#160;how...

Question 18

Which population dispersion pattern applies to an ecosystem with unevenly distributed resources?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a uniform pattern&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a random pattern&#160;&#10;C)&#160;a clumped pattern&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a dispersed pattern

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which population dispersion pattern applies to an...

Question 19

Which statement summarizes the story of changes in the whooping crane population?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It's about an indicator species.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It's about an alien species.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It's about a non-native species.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It's about a success story.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement summarizes the story of changes...

Question 20

What is emigration?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is the repeated departure and return of individuals to and from a population area.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It is the one-way movement of individuals out of a particular population to another area.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It is the one-way movement of individuals into an area with an established population.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It is the one-way movement of individuals into an uninhabited area.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is emigration?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is the repeated departure...

Question 21

Which population pattern is likely for hares and lynx living in an undisturbed habitat?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;irruptive&#160;&#10;B)&#160;cyclic&#160;&#10;C)&#160;explosive&#160;&#10;D)&#160;stable

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which population pattern is likely for hares...

Question 22

Which characteristic is generally exhibited by a K-selected species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It generally lives in a rapidly changing environment.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It exhibits &#34;boom-and-bust&#34; cycles.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It has a population that rises quickly and then crashes.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It has a population that follows an S-shaped growth curve.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which characteristic is generally exhibited by a...

Question 23

What survivorship curve would you expect for a mountain gorilla?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;no loss&#160;&#10;B)&#160;early loss&#160;&#10;C)&#160;constant loss&#160;&#10;D)&#160;late loss

Accepted Answer

The answer of What survivorship curve would you expect for...

Question 24

Which organism is an r-selected species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a saguaro cactus&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a rhinoceros&#160;&#10;C)&#160;a human&#160;&#10;D)&#160;an insect

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which organism is an r-selected species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a saguaro...

Question 25

Which strategy is a low priority for a conservation biologist?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;sustaining sensitive ecosystems&#160;&#10;B)&#160;rehabilitating degraded ecosystems&#160;&#10;C)&#160;protecting species from sharp declines&#160;&#10;D)&#160;protecting threatened ecosystems

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which strategy is a low priority for...

Question 26

What type of population change would you expect to occur for beavers in a province that has just outlawed trapping?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;explosive&#160;&#10;B)&#160;stable&#160;&#10;C)&#160;irruptive&#160;&#10;D)&#160;cyclic

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of population change would you...

Question 27

What is a typical means by which humans interfere in the development of natural ecosystems?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;by adding large predators to control other predators&#160;&#10;B)&#160;by under harvesting renewable resources&#160;&#10;C)&#160;by eliminating predators and introducing new species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;by increasing the number of species through simplifying ecosystems

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a typical means by which...

Question 28

Which term is not used to describe a type of population change curve?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;stable&#160;&#10;B)&#160;volatile&#160;&#10;C)&#160;cyclic&#160;&#10;D)&#160;irruptive

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term is not used to describe...

Question 29

Which statement is a general description of an r-selected species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is small and short lived.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It has a low biotic potential.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It survives to reproduce.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It gives much care to its offspring.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement is a general description of...

Question 30

Which of the following is a density-dependent population control?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;fire&#160;&#10;B)&#160;drought&#160;&#10;C)&#160;predation&#160;&#10;D)&#160;human destruction of habitat

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a density-dependent...

Question 31

What type of population change would you expect to occur for monkeys in an undisturbed section of the Brazilian rain forest?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;cyclic&#160;&#10;B)&#160;stable&#160;&#10;C)&#160;explosive&#160;&#10;D)&#160;irruptive

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of population change would you...

Question 32

If wolves are controlling deer populations,what type of control is it?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;predator control&#160;&#10;B)&#160;top-down population control&#160;&#10;C)&#160;producer-level control&#160;&#10;D)&#160;bottom-up population control

Accepted Answer

The answer of If wolves are controlling deer populations,what type...

Question 33

Which statement is a general description of a K-selected species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is more responsive to environmental changes than an r-selected species.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It has high genetic diversity.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It is generally less adaptable to change than an r-selected species.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It exhibits a fast rate of evolution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement is a general description of...

Question 34

What would you expect as the result of &#34;the founder effect&#34;?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;A few individuals would find more mates than other individuals, and thus have a greater effect on the gene pool.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;A few individuals would start a new gene pool in a situation that is isolated from the main population.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;A given number of individuals would be successful at finding food; beyond this core group, any additional individuals would starve.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;A given number of individuals would be successful at finding shelter; beyond this core group, any additional individuals would die through exposure or predation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What would you expect as the result...

Question 35

Which term refers to a population with only a few individuals and thus a limited ability to rebuild due to a lack of genetic diversity?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;founder effect&#160;&#10;B)&#160;demographic bottleneck&#160;&#10;C)&#160;inbreeding depression&#160;&#10;D)&#160;genetic drift

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term refers to a population with...

Question 36

Which connections would likely occur among population cycles,survival strategies,and survivorship curves?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;boom-and-bust; r-selected species; early loss&#160;&#10;B)&#160;stable; K-selected species; early loss&#160;&#10;C)&#160;stable; r-selected species; early loss&#160;&#10;D)&#160;boom-and-bust; K-selected species; early loss

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which connections would likely occur among population...

Question 37

What is the survivorship curve for a typical fish?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;late loss&#160;&#10;B)&#160;constant loss&#160;&#10;C)&#160;early loss&#160;&#10;D)&#160;no loss

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the survivorship curve for a...

Question 38

Which of the following is a density-independent population control?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;disease in the environment&#160;&#10;B)&#160;parasitism in the environment&#160;&#10;C)&#160;predation in the environment&#160;&#10;D)&#160;unfavourable chemical changes in the environment

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a density-independent...

Question 39

Which statement is characteristic of inbreeding?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It results when individuals in a large population mate with another large population.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It can result in a decrease in a defective gene within a population.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It occurs rarely in small or isolated populations.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It affects the survival rate and genetic diversity of a population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement is characteristic of inbreeding?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It results...

Question 40

Which type of species is more resistant to habitat fragmentation?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a large predator species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a migratory species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;a specialist species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a generalist species

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which type of species is more resistant...

Question 41

Which statement applies to natural ecosystems?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;They are subject to continuous invasion by pathogens and weeds.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;They are usually capable of self-maintenance and self-renewal.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;They have most of their biomass in one species.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;They require applications of pesticides.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement applies to natural ecosystems?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;They are...

Question 42

How did the World Health Organization control sylvatic plague in Borneo (Brunei)?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;by parachuting healthy cats into the infected area&#160;&#10;B)&#160;by spraying the infected area with pesticide&#160;&#10;C)&#160;by burning all the huts that housed infected people&#160;&#10;D)&#160;by introducing lizards to the infected area

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did the World Health Organization control...

Question 43

The intrinsic rate of increase (r)is the rate at which a population would grow if it had unlimited resources.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The intrinsic rate of increase (r)is the...

Question 44

Highly developed countries have such high rates of population growth because their birth rates are so high.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Highly developed countries have such high rates...

Question 45

When a population reaches carrying capacity,the population's biotic potential gradually declines to a consistent value that is slightly greater than the original value.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a population reaches carrying capacity,the population's...

Question 46

The population size of any species is influenced by the births,deaths,immigration,and emigration that occur within each population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The population size of any species is...

Question 47

Which statement is a basic lesson from nature?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;Sunlight is the source of energy that sustains ecosystems.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;Energy is not required to maintain energy flow and recycle chemicals.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;There are no limits to population growth.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;Populations of organisms, including humans, are kept in check by natural means.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement is a basic lesson from...

Question 48

A monoculture is a single crop that has replaced many interrelated plant and animal species.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A monoculture is a single crop that...

Question 49

One lesson biologists have learned from nature is that everything is connected to and interdependent with everything else.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One lesson biologists have learned from nature...

Question 50

Environmental resistance consists only of biotic factors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Environmental resistance consists only of biotic factors....

Question 51

A population's growth rate will increase as the population reaches its carrying capacity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A population's growth rate will increase as...

Question 52

Metapopulations are spatially separated populations that may continue to exchange genes with each other through dispersal of individuals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Metapopulations are spatially separated populations that may...

Question 53

Logistic growth involves a rapid exponential population growth followed by a drastic decrease in population growth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Logistic growth involves a rapid exponential population...

Question 54

The human population is likely to continue increasing at exponential rates indefinitely because of advances in our technology.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The human population is likely to continue...

Question 55

Why is the giant panda an endangered species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It has a low birth rate and small litter size.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;Its mating rituals are so complex that it rarely mates.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It has a large litter size but a high death rate because of predation.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It is a generalized species that eats only evergreen leaves.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is the giant panda an endangered...

Question 56

Carrying capacity is maximum number of a given species that can be sustained in an area without degrading the environment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Carrying capacity is maximum number of a...

Question 57

Why did the World Health Organization initiate pesticide spraying in Borneo (Brunei)?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;to control sylvatic plague&#160;&#10;B)&#160;to kill the caterpillars found in thatched roofs&#160;&#10;C)&#160;to eliminate small lizards&#160;&#10;D)&#160;to reduce the incidence of malaria

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why did the World Health Organization initiate...

Question 58

When a population exceeds the environment's carrying capacity,species diversity becomes constant.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a population exceeds the environment's carrying...

Question 59

Which feature would likely be lacking in a living system?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;diversity&#160;&#10;B)&#160;interdependence&#160;&#10;C)&#160;predictability&#160;&#10;D)&#160;limits

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which feature would likely be lacking in...

Question 60

In most cases,the effects of population increase,or of environmental resistance,are not felt instantly.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In most cases,the effects of population increase,or...

Question 61

A species whose population size fluctuates slightly above and below its carrying capacity is said to have a fairly ____________________ population size.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A species whose population size fluctuates slightly...

Question 62

A mammal reaches maturity after 10 years and bears only one or two young every two years.The parents and the rest of the herd protect the young.The type of survivorship curve that this animal would have is a(n)_________________________ curve.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A mammal reaches maturity after 10 years...

Question 63

A life table shows the number of individuals at each age on a survivorship curve.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A life table shows the number of...

Question 64

Many large mammal species that have long generation times and low reproductive rates are prone to ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many large mammal species that have long...

Deck 9: Population Ecology