Population Ecology: Dynamics, Growth, Regulation, and Interactions

Question 1

Which factor does NOT directly influence the carrying capacity of an environment for a population?

Accepted Answer

Average age of individuals in the population

Answer

Resource availability (food, water, shelter)

Answer

Predator-prey interactions

Answer

Competition between different species

Question 2

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain is known as its:

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Population density

Answer

Growth rate

Answer

Carrying potential

Question 3

Density-dependent population regulation occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Population size is limited by factors related to population density

Answer

Population size is limited by factors independent of population density

Answer

Population size is limited only by the environment

Answer

Population size is not limited by any factors

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an r-selected species?

Accepted Answer

Large body size

Answer

Short generation time

Answer

Numerous offspring

Answer

Low parental investment

Question 5

The study of how populations interact with each other and their environment is known as:

Accepted Answer

Population ecology

Answer

Community ecology

Answer

Ecosystem ecology

Answer

Behavioral ecology

Question 6

The process by which individuals of different species compete for limited resources is called:

Accepted Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Symbiosis

Answer

Mutualism

Question 7

The mathematical equation that models exponential population growth is:

Accepted Answer

dN/dt = rN

Answer

dN/dt = r(1 - N/K)

Answer

N = Ne^rt

Answer

dN/dt = -rN

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a method used to estimate population size?

Accepted Answer

Direct count

Answer

Mark-recapture

Answer

Transects

Answer

Quadrats

Question 9

Define environmental resistance. Explain the factors that contribute to it and describe how it influences population growth.

Accepted Answer

Factors contributing to environmental resistance include disease, predation, and competition.

Accepted Answer

Environmental resistance slows population growth as the population approaches its carrying capacity.

Answer

Environmental resistance is the ability of a population to resist changes in its environment.

Answer

Environmental resistance is independent of the carrying capacity.

Question 10

Which of the following does NOT directly influence the population growth rate?

Accepted Answer

Predation

Answer

Birth rate

Answer

Death rate

Answer

Immigration rate

Question 11

What is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain over time called?

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Population density

Answer

Exponential growth

Answer

Logistic growth

Question 12

Which graph represents a population that is experiencing exponential growth?

Accepted Answer

J-shaped curve

Answer

S-shaped curve

Answer

Linear curve

Answer

Parabolic curve

Question 13

Interspecific competition occurs when two species:

Accepted Answer

Compete for the same resources

Answer

Predate on each other

Answer

Live in a mutualistic relationship

Answer

Exhibit commensalism

Question 14

What is the term for a population distribution where individuals are evenly spaced?

Accepted Answer

Uniform

Answer

Random

Answer

Clumped

Answer

Dispersed

Question 15

Which of the following is a characteristic of a population that has reached equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

Constant birth and death rates

Answer

Rapidly fluctuating population size

Answer

Exponential growth rate

Answer

High immigration rate

Question 16

Which formula calculates the intrinsic rate of increase (r) of a population?

Accepted Answer

Exponential growth equation

Answer

Logistic equation

Answer

Carrying capacity equation

Answer

Hardy-Weinberg equation

Question 17

Which field of ecology examines how environmental factors affect the distribution and abundance of organisms?

Accepted Answer

Population ecology

Answer

Community ecology

Answer

Ecosystem ecology

Answer

Landscape ecology

Question 18

How does population ecology contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies and wildlife management practices?

Accepted Answer

Population ecology is applicable to both conservation and wildlife management.

Answer

Population ecology is only applicable to conservation efforts.

Answer

Population ecology only contributes to wildlife management practices.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a primary factor that influences population growth?

Accepted Answer

Emigration

Answer

Immigration

Answer

Birth rate

Answer

Death rate

Question 20

The carrying capacity of an environment refers to the

Accepted Answer

Maximum population size that can be indefinitely supported by the environment

Answer

Minimum population size that can survive in the environment

Answer

Average population size over an extended period

Answer

Rate at which the population is increasing in size

Question 21

A population that exhibits exponential growth is

Accepted Answer

Growing at an increasing rate

Answer

Growing at a constant rate

Answer

Growing at a decreasing rate

Answer

Not growing at all

Question 22

Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent limiting factor?

Accepted Answer

Competition for resources

Answer

Predation

Answer

Natural disasters

Answer

Disease outbreaks

Question 23

The age structure of a population refers to the

Accepted Answer

Distribution of individuals in a population by age

Answer

Distribution of individuals in a population by gender

Answer

Distribution of individuals in a population by habitat

Answer

Distribution of individuals in a population by genotype

Question 24

The founder effect refers to the

Accepted Answer

Loss of genetic diversity that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population

Answer

Increase in genetic diversity that occurs when a population is divided into smaller isolated populations

Answer

Selection pressure that favors certain alleles in a population

Answer

Mutation rate that occurs in a population

Question 25

Which of the following factors does NOT influence the growth rate of a population?

Accepted Answer

Weather conditions

Answer

Birth rate

Answer

Immigration rate

Answer

Death rate

Question 26

A rabbit population exhibits a J-shaped growth curve. Which scenario best explains this pattern?

Accepted Answer

Unlimited resources and rapid reproduction

Answer

Limited resources and competition

Answer

High predation and disease

Answer

Stable environmental conditions

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a type of interspecific interaction?

Accepted Answer

Homeostasis

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Question 28

A population of deer experiences a decline after a harsh winter. Which explanation is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Density-independent regulation

Answer

Increased carrying capacity

Answer

Density-dependent regulation

Answer

Immigration from neighboring areas

Question 29

In a balanced ecosystem, what is true regarding population size?

Accepted Answer

Remains constant over time

Answer

Fluctuates randomly

Answer

Decreases exponentially

Answer

Increases linearly

Question 30

Which method is best for estimating population size in large populations?

Accepted Answer

Mark-recapture

Answer

Total count

Answer

Transect sampling

Answer

Quadrat sampling

Question 31

A sudden increase in predators in an ecosystem will likely:

Accepted Answer

Decrease prey population size

Answer

Increase prey population size

Answer

No change in prey population size

Answer

Random fluctuations in prey population size

Question 32

Which characteristic is associated with a metapopulation?

Accepted Answer

Multiple subpopulations connected by dispersal

Answer

Single isolated population

Answer

Large, continuous population

Answer

Population confined to a single habitat

Question 33

Which concept defines the maximum sustainable population size in an environment?

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Minimum viable population

Answer

Growth rate

Answer

Carrying capacity index

Question 34

Which factor contributes to genetic drift?

Accepted Answer

Small population size

Answer

Random mating

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

High migration rate

Question 35

Which of the following is not a component of population growth rate?

Accepted Answer

Average life expectancy

Answer

Birth rate

Answer

Death rate

Answer

Net migration rate

Question 36

Which of the following is an example of a density-independent limiting factor that can affect population growth?

Accepted Answer

Natural disaster

Answer

Predation

Answer

Disease

Answer

Competition

Question 37

Which of the following is a characteristic of the exponential growth phase of a population growth curve?

Accepted Answer

J-shaped

Answer

S-shaped

Answer

Linear

Answer

Bell-shaped

Question 38

Which of the following is a benefit of population regulation?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining ecosystem stability and balance

Answer

Increasing resource availability

Answer

Preventing habitat loss

Answer

Eliminating competition

Question 39

Which of the following is a strategy for regulating human population growth?

Accepted Answer

Birth control

Answer

Increased predation

Answer

Climate change

Answer

Habitat destruction

Question 40

Which of the following is a type of species interaction where one species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefited?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Competition

Question 41

Which of the following is a characteristic of a stable population?

Accepted Answer

Constant population size over time

Answer

Declining population size

Answer

Fluctuating population size

Answer

Rapid population growth

Question 42

Which of the following is an example of a population distribution pattern?

Accepted Answer

Clumped

Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Density

Answer

Growth rate

Question 43

Which of the following is a technique used to estimate population size that involves marking and recapturing individuals?

Accepted Answer

Mark-recapture

Answer

Historical records

Answer

Computer modeling

Answer

Direct observation

Question 44

A fundamental concept in population ecology related to the maximum population size that an environment can sustain is:

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Gene expression

Question 45

The mathematical equation representing exponential population growth is:

Accepted Answer

dN/dt = rN

Answer

dN/dt = rN * (K - N) / K

Answer

dN/dt = rN * (K + N) / K

Answer

dN/dt = rN * (N - K) / K

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a density-dependent regulating factor that affects population growth?

Accepted Answer

Weather

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Question 47

The logistic growth equation includes a term that accounts for:

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Initial population size

Answer

Environmental resistance

Question 48

A population that has reached its carrying capacity typically exhibits which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Stable size and age distribution

Answer

Rapid population growth

Answer

Declining population size

Answer

Fluctuating population size

Question 49

Interspecific competition occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Two different species utilize the same resources in an ecosystem.

Answer

Individuals of the same species compete for mates.

Answer

A predator and its prey interact.

Question 50

Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic interaction?

Accepted Answer

Pollination of plants by bees

Answer

Competition between two plant species for sunlight

Answer

Herbivory of plants by insects

Answer

Predation of deer by wolves

Question 51

The study of the age distribution of a population is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Demography

Answer

Evolution

Answer

Ecology

Answer

Genetics

Question 52

The fundamental factor that ultimately limits population growth is:

Accepted Answer

Availability of resources

Answer

Disease

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation