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BIO 110 > Population Ecology > Flashcards

Population Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a population?

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at a given time.

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2
Q

Population density refers to:
a) The total number of individuals in a population
b) The geographic range of a population
c) The age structure of a population
d) The proportion of males to females in a population

A

a) The total number of individuals in a population

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3
Q

Dispersion refers to the way individuals are spaced within a population. Three common dispersion patterns are clumped, uniform, and ____.

A

random

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4
Q

TF: The age structure of a population refers to the relative numbers of individuals in each age category. This information can be used to predict future population growth.

A

True

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5
Q

How can population density and dispersion patterns influence the spread of disease, competition for resources, and predator-prey interactions within a population?

A

High density and clumped dispersion can facilitate disease transmission and competition for resources. Predator-prey interactions can be influenced by both density and dispersion patterns. For example, a high density of prey species in a clumped pattern might make them more vulnerable to predators.

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6
Q

Demography is the study of the size, structure, and dynamics of populations. What are some demographic factors that can influence population growth?

A

Birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration

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7
Q

Exponential growth is a theoretical population growth model where a population increases in size at a constant rate. What factors are NOT considered in this model, making it unrealistic for most populations?
a) Carrying capacity
b) Birth rates
c) Death rates
d) Immigration and emigration

A

a) Carrying capacity. Exponential growth cannot continue indefinitely due to limitations in resources

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8
Q

The logistic growth model is a more realistic population growth model that takes into account ____, the maximum population size that an environment can support in the long term.

A

carrying capacity

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9
Q

What is the difference between density-dependent factors and density-independent factors that can regulate population growth?

A

Density-dependent factors (e.g., competition for resources, predation) affect populations more intensely as density increases. Density-independent factors (e.g., natural disasters, harsh weather) can impact populations regardless of density.

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10
Q

Competition between individuals within a population for resources like food, water, and mates can:
a) Increase population growth
b) Decrease population growth
c) Have no effect on population growth
d) Lead to extinction of the entire population

A

b) Decrease population growth

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11
Q

_____ is an interaction where one organism captures and feeds on another organism.

A

Predation

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12
Q

TF: Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one organism (parasite) benefits by living on or in another organism (host), often harming the host in the process. Parasites can act as density-dependent regulators of host populations.

A

True

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13
Q

How can human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation of resources, negatively impact population growth and regulation in various ecosystems?

A

Habitat destruction can reduce carrying capacity, pollution can harm organisms and disrupt predator-prey interactions, and overexploitation can deplete resources and drive prey populations down. These factors can all contribute to population decline and instability.

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14
Q

What is the concept of an r-selected species and a K-selected species? Briefly describe their reproductive strategies.

A

r-selected species: Reproduce quickly, have short lifespans, and produce many offspring with low parental investment (e.g., some insects).
K-selected species: Reproduce slowly, have longer lifespans, and produce fewer offspring with high parental investment (e.g., mammals).

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15
Q

Life history strategies, including age at first reproduction, parental investment, and lifespan, are adaptations that have evolved in different species to maximize their fitness in a particular environment. These strategies are influenced by:
a) Predation pressure and resource availability
b) Only competition within the population
c) Environmental temperature
d) None of the above

A

a) Predation pressure and resource availability

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16
Q

Survivorship curves depict the probability of an individual surviving to different age classes. There are three main types of survivorship curves. Type I, Type II, and Type III. Briefly explain each.

A

Type I (low mortality in early life, high mortality in later life) - common in K-selected species with good parental care.

Type II (relatively constant mortality throughout life) - common in some bird and mammal populations.

Type III (high mortality in early life, low mortality in later life) - common in r-selected species with many offspring but little parental care.

17
Q

TF: Natural selection can favor different life history strategies depending on the environmental conditions. For example, selection might favor rapid reproduction in unstable environments and delayed reproduction with high parental investment in stable environments.

A

True

18
Q

What is the demographic transition, and how does it influence population growth patterns?

A

The demographic transition is a shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a society develops economically and socially. This can lead to population growth initially, followed by stabilization or even decline.

19
Q

Factors contributing to the global population growth in the 20th century include:
a) Advances in medicine and public health
b) Increased rates of war and famine
c) Decreasing availability of food and water resources
d) None of the above

A

a) Advances in medicine and public health

20
Q

Concerns about resource _____, environmental _____, and social _____ associated with a rapidly growing human population have led to the development of family planning programs and educational initiatives to promote smaller family sizes.

A

depletion, degradation, issues

21
Q

TF: Population momentum refers to the tendency for population growth to continue even after fertility rates decline due to the large number of young people entering reproductive age.

A

True

22
Q

What are some of the ethical considerations surrounding population control measures?

A

Ethical considerations include individual rights to reproduce, cultural and religious beliefs, and ensuring equitable access to family planning resources.

23
Q

What is the minimum viable population (MVP)?

A

The minimum viable population (MVP) is the smallest population size that has a high probability of persisting over a specified number of generations, avoiding extinction due to demographic and genetic factors.

24
Q

Habitat fragmentation, caused by human activities like deforestation and urbanization, is a major threat to biodiversity. How does fragmentation impact populations?
a) Reduces carrying capacity and isolates populations
b) Increases genetic diversity within populations
c) Provides more resources for populations
d) None of the above

A

a) Reduces carrying capacity and isolates populations

25
Q

__________ is a field of study focused on protecting biodiversity and preventing species extinction. Its efforts can involve habitat protection, captive breeding programs, and reintroduction of species into their former habitats.

A

Conservation Biology

26
Q

How can sustainable resource management practices help to conserve populations and ecosystems?

A

Sustainable practices like responsible fishing quotas, reducing pollution, and protecting natural resources can help maintain healthy ecosystems and prevent population decline due to overexploitation.

27
Q

What is the concept of keystone species, and how do they play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem stability?

A

Keystone species are organisms that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystems relative to their abundance. Their removal can have cascading effects on other populations and ecosystem processes. (e.g., sea otters in kelp forests)

28
Q

Population ecology is the study of:
a) How genes flow within and between populations
b) The classification and diversity of living organisms
c) The structure and function of ecosystems
d) The behavior of individual organisms

A

a) How genes flow within and between populations. This is more related to population genetics.

29
Q

Demographers use life tables to depict _____ and calculate population growth rates

A

survivorship

30
Q

How can an understanding of population ecology be applied to issues like managing fisheries, controlling invasive species, and protecting endangered populations?

A

Population ecology helps us understand factors influencing population growth, decline, and regulation. This knowledge can be used to develop sustainable fishing

31
Q

TF: Exponential population growth cannot be sustained indefinitely due to limitations in resources like food, water, and space.

A

True

32
Q

Population ecology is the study of:
a) The structure and function of ecosystems
b) The behavior of individual organisms
c) How populations of organisms change over time and space
d) Only the genetic makeup of populations

A

c) How populations of organisms change over time and space

33
Q

When considering the human population, what are some potential consequences of exceeding the carrying capacity of Earth’s ecosystems?

A

Resource depletion, environmental degradation, and social problems are some potential consequences

34
Q

TF: Sustainable resource management practices, such as responsible fishing quotas and reducing pollution, can help to conserve populations and ecosystems by maintaining healthy resource levels and minimizing negative impacts.

A

True

35
Q

Briefly explain the concept of biodiversity and its importance for ecosystem health and stability.

A

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life at all levels, from genes to species to ecosystems. It is crucial for ecosystem health and stability as it provides a range of functional roles within the ecosystem and contributes to resilience in the face of disturbances.

36
Q

How can an understanding of population ecology principles contribute to efforts to conserve biodiversity and protect endangered species?
a) By identifying threats to populations and their habitats
b) By providing information on the economic value of different species
c) By focusing solely on charismatic megafauna
d) None of the above

A

a) By identifying threats to populations and their habitats

BIO 110 (11 decks)

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