Chapter 24 - Populations and Sustainability

Question 1

What are the 3 stages of the population growth curve?

Answer 1

Phase 1 - Slow growth
Phase 2 - Rapid growth
Phase 3 - Stable state

Question 2

What is interspecific competition?

Answer 2

Competition between different species

Question 3

What is intraspecific competition?

Answer 3

Competition with a species

Question 4

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Answer 4

When two species are competing for resources, the one who uses the resources more effectively and outcompete the other, the other would either have to migrate or eventually all die out.

Question 5

How does intraspecific competition result in fluctuations in population of a species?

Answer 5

Stage 1- when a resource is plentiful in a habitat and the population of the species is relatively low, all organisms have enough of the resource to survive and reproduce. This results in birth rates being higher than death rates, so population grows
Stage 2- as the population grows, it becomes more and more difficult for all organisms to have enough of the resource, meaning some will not survive, resulting in death rates being higher than birth rates, so population falls
Stage 3- as the population falls, the it becomes easier and easier for all organisms to have enough of the resource to survive and reproduce, so the cycle repeats.