Of Populations Flashcards
7 cards from real Ecology practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Of Populations flashcards as text
Which term describes the maximum population size an environment can sustain indefinitely given available resources?
Answer: Carrying capacity
Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support long-term given its limiting resources.
A population grows from 200 to 260 individuals in one year. What is the per capita growth rate (r) for that year?
Answer: 0.30
Per capita growth rate r = (260 - 200) / 200 = 60 / 200 = 0.30 per individual per year.
In a survivorship curve, a Type I curve is characteristic of species that:
Answer: Have low juvenile mortality and high adult mortality
Type I survivorship curves show most individuals surviving to old age, then dying rapidly, typical of large mammals including humans.
Which of the following is an example of a density-independent limiting factor for a population?
Answer: A sudden wildfire destroying habitat
Density-independent factors like natural disasters affect populations regardless of how many individuals are present.
What does the demographic concept of 'generation time' refer to?
Answer: The average time between birth and first reproduction
Generation time is the average age at which individuals first reproduce, influencing how quickly a population can grow.
Which population age structure indicates a rapidly growing population?
Answer: A broad base tapering to a narrow top
A broad-based age pyramid indicates many young individuals relative to older ones, signaling rapid future population growth.
The Allee effect describes a phenomenon where:
Answer: Per capita growth rate decreases at very low population densities
The Allee effect occurs when per capita fitness or growth rate declines at low densities due to reduced mate-finding, cooperation, or predator defense.