Chapter 10 Population Dynamics Flashcards
What does D represent in the formula used to calculate population size?
number of deaths
Which feature is the most important when one studies population dynamics?
population distribution
Which of the following is not a benefit provided to human society by an understanding of population ecology?
development of a cure for diseases
Which nest predator most likely contributed to the greater aggressiveness of the Africanized honeybees?
humans
Which feature has contributed to the rapid expansion of Africanized honeybees through South and North America? (book)
high rate of colony formation
What does Nt represent in the formula used to calculate population size?
the number of individuals in the population at some time
What features are considered when studying population dynamics?
population abundance
population distribution
What benefits are provided to human society by an understanding of population ecology?
control of pest species
maintenance of economically important plants
prevention of species extinction
Which feature is associated with the spatial dynamics of populations?
the influence of dispersal on distribution
Which regions have the Africanized honeybees been able to successfully colonize due to high rates of colony formation and rapid dispersal? (book)
North and South America
Studying patterns of survival and reproduction in populations is associated with which type of population dynamics?
temporal
Which type of population densities are most impacted by dispersal?
local populations
Which type of populations provide the best information about the dispersal aspects of populations?
expanding populations
Which species of bird was not introduced into North America? (book)
Turkey vultures
True or false: Both distribution and abundance are influenced by the dispersal of populations.
true
Which individuals in a population of Eurasian Collared doves are more likely to disperse? (book)
juveniles / young
Which feature is associated with temporal dynamics?
patterns of survival
How can dispersal influence the density of a population?
It can increase and decrease the population.
What event caused the northward dispersal of many species, including temperate forest trees, 16,000 years ago?
retreat of the glaciers
True or false: Expanding populations provide some of the best information about dispersal aspects of populations.
true
Which bird is the most recently introduced species in North America? (book)
Eurasian collared doves
Why would individuals disperse from a population?
Young individuals face stiff competition from the others in the growing population.
Which species dispersed more rapidly over the last 16,000 years? (book)
maple
What substances are used to measure the dispersal rate of plants?
pollen sediments
Which group of organisms left a well-studied record of their dispersal in response to climate change in lake sediments? (book)
maples
According to numerical responses, what type of change should occur in the predator population if the prey density increases?
The predator density would change.
What role did the mice and shrews play in the C.S. Holling study on numerical responses?
They were predators.
In small mammals, an increase in food results in an ______.
increase in density
Which predators were associated with the Korpimäki and Norrdahl vole study?
European kestrel
long-eared owls
short-eared owls
Which statement best describes a numerical response?
Changes in predator population density due to increased prey density.
Identify the mechanisms that can produce numerical responses in predators.
increase in prey population
predator dispersal
Identify the influence that currents can have upon stream ecosystems.
shape of stream organisms
amount of oxygen
size of stream organisms
According to the C.S. Holling study, the numerical responses of the mice and shrews were due to what factor? (book)
an increase in the reproductive rate
Which feature in small mammals is largely responsible for an increase in their density?
their reproductive rate
Which feature is unique to the microorganisms living in a stream?
Ability to adhere to the surface of substrates.
Which statement best describes why researchers felt that it was predator dispersal instead of reproduction that led to the numerical responses in the kestrels and owls? (book)
The peak of the predator and prey populations almost perfectly matched.
Identify the abiotic influence that current can have upon a stream ecosystem.
amount of oxygen available
What happens to stream organisms during a spate?
They get washed downstream.
Which feature enables fish to maintain their position in a stream?
streamlined to swim against the current
What is the composition of drift?
fragments of leaves
stream insects
pieces of algae
What is occurring during a spate?
The water level in the stream is rapidly increasing.
Along with dispersal, which other variable plays a significant role in the colonization cycle?
reproduction
What feature is necessary to call a group of organisms a subpopulation?
spatial separation from other members of their species
What feature is necessary to call subpopulations a metapopulation?
exchange of individuals between subpopulations
In which direction do the components of drift move?
downstream
Which of the following events occurs during the colonization cycle?
Populations of organisms will disperse both upstream and downstream.
In what manner do subpopulations maintain an exchange of individuals?
through immigration and emigration
What is the main reason that the butterfly P. smintheus forms metapopulations? (book)
The distribution of their host plant forces them into metapopulations.
True or false: To be classified as a metapopulation, there must be an exchange of individuals among patches.
true
Which features are leading to a decrease in the size of alpine meadows? (book)
fire suppression
global warming
Which is a reason that butterflies will leave their population?
The population size becomes very small.
Why does the butterfly P. smintheus form metapopulatons? (book)
They are tied to a narrow range of host plants.
What feature is necessary to call subpopulations a metapopulation?
exchange of individuals between subpopulations
What meadow size resulted in greater than 100 butterflies in the population?
approximately a 40 ha meadow
As the alpine meadows decrease in size, what variable is increasing?
their isolation from each other
Which statement is correct about the butterfly and lesser kestrel population? (book)
The butterfly population is contracting while the kestrel is expanding.
Which type of population are butterflies more likely to leave?
a small population
What type of information does a life table provide a population biologist?
survivorship & death
What was the mean population size of Rocky Mountain Parnassian butterflies in a 1.1 ha meadow? (book)
less than 1 butterfly
Which feature is found in both the butterfly and kestrel population?
They are both spatially organized into metapopulations.
Which of the following is an example of a cohort?
624 sunfish born this spring
Which information is used to determine a static life table?
The age of death of a large number of individuals.
Which pieces of information do life tables provide?
survivorship in the population
deaths in the population
What information can be gained from the age distribution of a population?
the number of individuals in each age group
the patterns of survival
Survivorship curves are plotted as the number of survivors per how many births?
1,000
Which of the following describes a cohort?
A large group of individuals born at the same time.
Which age group, typically, has the lowest mortality among large mammals?
the youngest
What information is gained from a static life table?
patterns of survival in the wild
The age distribution of a population can be used to determine the patterns of ______.
survival
Which age group, typically, has the lowest mortality among birds?
they are all equal
Which of the following pieces of information can be gained from a survivorship curve?
pattern of life and death within a population
Which statement best describes the pattern of mortality among large mammals?
high mortality among the older individuals
Which information is used to determine a static life table?
The age of death of a large number of individuals.
Which statement correctly describes the mortality rates of birds?
All age groups die at an equal frequency.
Which age group, typically, has the greatest rate of mortality among various marine fish?
The young age group has the greatest rate of mortality.
The age distribution of a population can be used to determine the patterns of ______.
survival
What predictions can ecologists make from the information gained from the age distribution of a population?
the future growth or decline of the population
Which statement correctly describes the mortality rate of various marine fish?
The young have an extremely high rate of mortality.
Which statement best describes the pattern of mortality among large mammals?
high mortality among the older individuals
Which information is used to determine a static life table?
The age of death of a large number of individuals.
What type of growth potential could be expected from a population that has the majority of individuals in the youngest age class?
The population level is growing.
Which of the following is not obtained from the information offered by the age distribution of a population?
the type of predators that are causing a decline in the population
What information is gained from a static life table?
patterns of survival in the wild
Which variable was influential in increasing the population size of the cactus finch population on Genovesa Island? (book)
Wet weather
What can be inferred from a population in which large numbers of individuals are concentrated in the youngest age class but die off rapidly
The population has a Type III survivorship curve.
What predictions can ecologists make from the information gained from the age distribution of a population?
the future growth or decline of the population
Which of the following best defines the term birthrate?
Number of young born per female in a period of time.
Which statement correctly describes the mortality rate of various marine fish?
The young have an extremely high rate of mortality.
Which statement about the white oak population is the most accurate?
This population is dominated by young trees and should persist for some time.
Which statement describes why the cactus finch population of Genovesa Island was able to increase? (book)
Wet weather resulted in increased food production for the finches.
When tabulating a fecundity schedule, which parental demographic is studied?
the adult females
What type of growth potential could be expected from a population that has the majority of individuals in the youngest age class?
The population level is growing.
True or false: Birthrate is measured as the number of young born per female in a given period of time.
true
Identify the pieces of information that are used to calculate the net reproductive rate for an annual plant species.
survivorship curve
seed production
How is a fecundity schedule tabulated?
The tabulation of the birth rates for all the females in a population.
Which of the following best defines the term birthrate?
Number of young born per female in a period of time.
Which statement correctly describes the mortality rate of various marine fish?
The young have an extremely high rate of mortality.
What information is gained from the geometric rate of increase?
The rate at which a population is growing.
Which piece of information is needed when calculating the net reproductive rate?
survivorship curve
When tabulating a fecundity schedule, which parental demographic is studied?
the adult females
What is the clutch size of a female turtle if she nests an average of 1.2 times a year and lays an average of 3.8 eggs per year? (book)
3.17 eggs
What is the generation time of the mud turtles in Ellenton Bay? (book)
10.6 years
True or false: Birthrate is measured as the number of young born per female in a given period of time.
true
What value should you have for r when calculating per capita rate of increase if the population is growing?
The value of r should be positive.
Turtles average 1.2 nests per year and lay an average of 3.17 eggs. What is the average number of eggs produced by nesting females per year?
3.8 eggs
Large numbers of vertebrate and invertebrate species are extending their ranges upslope ______.
because of global warming
What information is gained by knowing the generation time of a population?
the average age of reproduction
What does a negative value for r indicate when calculating per capita rate of increase?
The population is declining.
Global warming is causing species to extend their range ______.
upslope
What information is gained by knowing the generation time of a population?
the average age of reproduction
