Ecology Population Growth and Regulation Questions and Answers

Question 1

A population of deer is introduced to a new island with abundant food and no predators.
Initially, the population grows rapidly.
However, after several years, the growth rate slows and the population size stabilizes around 1,000 individuals.
This pattern is best described by which model of population growth?

Accepted Answer

Logistic growth

Answer

Exponential growth

Answer

Linear growth

Answer

Chaotic growth

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent factor that can regulate population size?

Accepted Answer

Increased predation

Answer

A sudden, severe frost

Answer

A volcanic eruption

Answer

A prolonged drought

Question 3

An organism that produces a very large number of offspring, provides no parental care, and has a high mortality rate early in life exhibits which type of survivorship curve?

Accepted Answer

Type III

Answer

Type I

Answer

Type II

Answer

Type IV

Question 4

In the logistic growth equation, dN/dt = rN((K-N)/K), what does the term (K-N)/K represent?

Accepted Answer

The proportion of available resources

Answer

The intrinsic rate of increase

Answer

The carrying capacity of the environment

Answer

The current population size

Question 5

A species characterized by a long lifespan, late reproductive maturity, and extensive parental care for a small number of offspring is referred to as a(n):

Accepted Answer

K-selected species

Answer

r-selected species

Answer

Pioneer species

Answer

Indicator species

Question 6

A population of birds on a remote island has a constant mortality rate regardless of age; an individual's chance of dying is the same at age one as it is at age five. Which type of survivorship curve would this population exhibit?

Accepted Answer

A diagonal straight line (Type II)

Answer

A concave curve (Type III)

Answer

A convex curve (Type I)

Answer

An S-shaped curve