Population size

Question 1

What is carrying capacity?

Answer 1

The maximum size a population can maintain

Question 2

What is exponential growth?

Answer 2

• Continuous growth in population size
• Only possible when there is an infinite supply of resources

Question 3

Use of quadrats

Answer 3

Used to count population size within a large area

Question 4

What is sampling?

Answer 4

Taking samples from small sections of total area allows population size to be estimated

Question 5

What is random sampling?

Answer 5

• Divide area of interest into a grid and label with coordinates
• Quadrats placed randomly using these coordinates

Question 6

What are transects?

Answer 6

• A line across a habitat when there is a change or gradient in abiotic conditions
• Quadrats placed along this line

Question 7

What are the two types of transects?

Answer 7

Line = records species that make contact with tape measure at regular intervals
Belt = uses quadrats placed at regular intervals (percentage cover or frequency can be measured)

Question 8

What is Mark, Release, Recapture?

Answer 8

1. Capture
2. Mark using tags, bands, etc.
3. Release marked animals back into environment and leave them for at least a week
4. Recapture and count unmarked individuals
5. Released again
6. Calculate population size: no. caught 1st sample x no. caught 2nd sample / no. marked 2nd sample