Deck 44: Population Ecology

Question 1

A survivorship curve with uniform death rates over time is most likely to be a type _______ curve.

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV
E)V

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A group of interbreeding individuals occupying the same habitat at the same time is a(n)

A)species.
B)guild.
C)population.
D)niche.
E)quadrat.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Population growth typically slows down when populations reach carrying capacity because

A)resource limitation decreases birth rates.
B)abundant resources reduce competition.
C)density-independent mortality increases.
D)predation pressure is reduceD.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Parasitism usually affects populations in a ____________ manner.

A)density-independent
B)density-dependent
C)inverse density-dependent
D)cyclic
E)random

Question 5

Examine the figure above.In 2010,what age group(s)made up the largest proportion of the population of France?

A)65-100+
B)35-64
C)0-14
D)15-34
E)None,all age groups contain an equal proportion.

Question 6

What percentage of the population are under the age of 15 in West Africa?

A)~8.5
B)~25
C)~50
D)~65
E)~15

Question 7

A good sampling method for quantifying the density of birds or bats is the use of

A)line transects.
B)quadrats.
C)pitfall traps.
D)baited live traps.
E)mist nets.

Question 8

The per capita growth rate of a population is best defined as

A)the change in population size per unit time.
B)having a constant value for a particular species.
C)per capita birth rate minus per capita death rate.
D)growth rate when a population is at equilbrium.
E)logistic growth.

Question 9

Examine the figure above.What type of pattern does the human population exhibit through most of its history?

A)logistic growth
B)exponential growth
C)zero growth (equilbrium)
D)negative growth

Question 10

In the formula,dN/dt = rN(K-N)/K,the rate of population growth approaches zero as

A)carrying capacity approaches zero.
B)the age-specific fertility rate approaches zero.
C)the per capita growth rate declines.
D)the population size approaches the carrying capacity.

Question 11

World human population in 2012 was approximately

A)6 billion.
B)800 million.
C)8 billion.
D)7 billion.
E)15.8 billion.

Question 12

You find a notebook that has lots of equations,tables,and graphs in it.The tables have columns for the number of female offspring born over a year,the number of deaths over a year,and the number of individuals in various age classes.What subject do you think the owner of the notebook is studying? What type of tables are they most likely using?

A)population density;life tables
B)population ecology;mark-recapture tables
C)demography;life tables
D)demography;survivorship tables
E)population density;survivorship tables

Question 13

A plot of population size vs time that displays a J-shape is indicative of

A)parasitism.
B)exponential growth.
C)logistic growth.
D)competition.
E)density dependencE.

Question 14

In a growing population,the youngest age classes have

A)the highest number of deaths/year.
B)the fewest individuals.
C)the most individuals.
D)the smallest number of deaths/year.
E)the most individuals and the largest number of deaths/year.

Question 15

What information is used to calculate the age-specific fertility rate,mx?

A)the net reproductive rate of females
B)total number of offspring born to females within a reproductive age class
C)the per capita growth rate of all females
D)number of female offspring born to females within a reproductive age class
E)the average age of first reproduction for females

Question 16

What is the simplest method to measure population density in a given area?

A)Count the number of organisms.
B)Perform a line transect.
C)Look for random dispersion patterns.
D)Count the number of reproductive adults.
E)Calculate a survivorship curvE.

Question 17

If the age structure of a country's population is evenly distributed,what prediction can confidently be made about the near future?

A)The birth rate will decline.
B)The death rate will decline.
C)The population will not increase rapidly.
D)The population will increase rapidly.
E)The population will decrease rapidly.

Question 18

A survivorship curve in which most individuals die late in life is a type _______ curve.

A)IV
B)III
C)II
D)I
E)0I

Question 19

A mark-recapture program marked 10 individuals in the first catch.The second catch has a total of 8 individuals,4 of which were recaptures.What is the estimate of total population size?

A)22
B)24
C)42
D)20
E)40

Question 20

A line transect would probably be the preferred method to quantify the population density of

A)blackbirds.
B)lions.
C)clown fish.
D)Ponderosa pines.
E)swallowtail butterflies.

Question 21

Secondary metabolites are produced to

A)deter herbivores.
B)deter competitors.
C)aid in reproduction.
D)aid in growth.
E)mimic other species.

Question 22

You are studying the feeding habits of a group of four closely related bird species.You observe that all four species feed on insects.However,
You notice that the species do not feed at the same time of day: one species feeds most actively at dawn,another during the middle of the day,another at dusk,and the last species feeds at night.What term would you use to describe this behavior?

A)competitive exclusion
B)mutualism
C)competition
D)resource partitioning
E)commensalism

Question 23

The ecological footprint of an average Egyptian is greater than that of an average American.

Question 24

The seeds of many plant species are dispersed by a harmless temporary attachment to an animal's fur or feathers.This form of dispersal can be classified as

A)commensalism.
B)amensalism.
C)mutualism.
D)pollination.
E)parasitism.

Question 25

If 100 females of age class x produce 50 offspring,the contribution of age class x to the overall population growth rate is

A)cannot be calculated;need total population size.
B)0.5.
C)2.
D)50.
E)cannot be calculated;need age specific survivorship

Question 26

Exponential growth is rare because resources usually limit population size.

Question 27

In a survey of Dall mountain sheep in Denali National Park in Alaska,researchers found that wolves preyed primarily on the most vulnerable members of the population,the young (pre-reproductive)and the old (post-reproductive).What conclusion is best supported by this fact?

A)A program should be established to cull the sheep population.
B)Wolf predation is not dramatically reducing the sheep population.
C)The wolf population is at its carrying capacity,so it is no threat to the sheep population.
D)A program should be established to cull the wolf population.
E)Wolf predation is dramatically reducing the sheep population.

Question 28

Parasitic relationships are typically loose associations between two species.

Question 29

What is an example of a +/- interaction?

A)competition
B)mutualism
C)commensalism
D)predation
E)amensalism

Question 30

Scientists have discovered that when they provide supplemental food for hares,their density tripled.Based on the figure above,showing cycles of lynx and hare populations over a century's time,what do you predict would happen to a lynx population in an area where hares were provided supplemental food?

A)The lynx population would remain the same size because it is in equilibrium with its prey.
B)The lynx population would increase simultaneously with the hare population.
C)The lynx population would decrease as hares increased due to competition for space resources.
D)The lynx population would increase 1-2 years after the hares increaseD.

Question 31

You are studying with a classmate who asks you about the concept of a replacement rate.She wants to know what happens to a population if the replacement rate is reached? She assumes the average human replacement rate is 2.0.What would you tell her?

A)When replacement rate is reached,the population declines.The replacement rate is slightly greater than 2.0 because of childhood mortality.
B)When replacement rate is reached,the population increases.The replacement rate is slightly lower than 2.0 to make up for increasing birth rates.
C)When replacement rate is reached,the population begins to decline.The replacement rate is equal to 2.0 to replace both mother and father.
D)When replacement rate is reached,the population is in equilibrium.The replacement rate is greater than 2.0 because some individuals die before they reproduce.
E)When replacement rate is reached,the population begins to declinE.The replacement rate is slightly higher than 2.0 to make up for decreasing fertility rates.

Question 32

Worldwide human population growth has been exponential since the Industrial Revolution.

Question 33

What form of coloration is shown by many seahorses?

A)aposematic
B)Müllerian
C)Batesian
D)camouflage
E)secondary metabolite coloring

Question 34

The relationship of disease-causing organisms to an infected rabbit is one of

A)parasitism.
B)commensalism.
C)competition.
D)herbivory.
E)predation.

Question 35

In competition between P.caudatum and P.bursaria,neither species goes extinct because they utilize different resources.This can be considered as evidence for

A)the extinction theory.
B)Batesian mimicry.
C)the coexistence hypothesis.
D)the competitive exclusion principle.
E)resource partitioning.

Question 36

What is an example of a +/+ interaction?

A)competition
B)mutualism
C)commensalism
D)parasitism
E)ammensalism

Question 37

Several butterfly species that are edible to birds have very similar color patterns to the generally inedible monarch butterfly.This is best described as an example of what?

A)Müllerian mimicry
B)Batesian mimicry
C)camouflage
D)intimidation
E)aposematic coloration

Question 38

What total fertility rate would be most likely to cause the human population size to be 5 billion in the year 2100?

A)0
B)2.8
C)1.2
D)1.5
E)2.3

Question 39

Modern humans show a type I survivorship curve.

Question 40

A forest fire would normally act as a density dependent factor on population size.

Question 41

If you were given the task of choosing a biological control agent for a reed from China that has become invasive in the southeastern U.S. ,what do you think would be the best choice? Consider both the effectiveness and the safety of the agent you be releasing.

A)A beetle that feeds upon both native and non-native reed species,and can consume massive quantities of the Chinese reed in a few weeks.
B)A nematode (microscopic worm-like organism),native to China,that only eats the invasive reed species,but can take up to two years to kill a plant.
C)A caterpillar,native to the U.S. ,that normally feeds upon a close relative of the invasive Chinese reed,but has been found in lab trials to prefer the Chinese reed.
D)A fungal pathogen from China that is only known to infect the Chinese reed and can kill a plant in a few months.

Question 42

Chemical defenses are found only among animals.

Question 43

Resource partitioning enables species that are better competitors to exclude similar species from a community.

Question 44

Herbivory by rabbits on a grass species has an overall beneficial effect on the grass.

Question 45

The mimicry of coral snakes by scarlet king snakes is an example of Batesian mimicry.

Question 46

Gopher tortoises regularly abandon their burrows and build new ones to accomadate their changing size and food requirements.The eastern indigo snake often makes its home in these abandoned burrows.How would you characterize this relationship and its effect on each member?

A)parasitism: indigo snake +,gopher tortoise -
B)competition: indigo snake -,gopher tortoise -
C)commensalism: indigo snake 0,gopher tortoise +
D)parasitism: indigo snake 0,gopher tortoise -
E)commensalism: indigo snake +,gopher tortoise 0

Question 47

Two species that occupy identical ecological niches will not be able to co-exist for an extended period of time.