Question 1

Various species of Anolis lizards are able to coexist on Hispaniola because they function in different niches (e.g., feed on different organisms or hunt in different areas).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Recall the classic experiments assessing arthropod extinction rates in moss (Figure 46.14) . If corridors are eliminated between moss patches, how does this change affect the arthropods inhabiting the moss?

Accepted Answer

A)  Arthropod extinction rates remain the same.
B)  Arthropod extinction rates decrease.
C)  Arthropod extinction rates increase.D) All of the above
E) B) and C)

Question 3

Species' extinction rates on an island are dependent on two things: how large the island is, and the location of the island in relation to other land masses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Habitat fragmentation occurs frequently with current logging practices. The figure below shows a fragmented set of patches in a logged area.  At equilibrium, which forest fragment is likely to hold the LARGEST number of species?

Accepted Answer

A)  population J
B)  population K
C)  population L
D)  population ME) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 5

In the experiments with moss patches described in your text, what were the two factors that affected insect extinction rates within patches?

Accepted Answer

A)  patch size and patch connectivity (usable habitat corridors between patches) 
B)  patch size and distance from the source population
C)  patch connectivity (usable habitat corridors between patches) and mobility of predators
D)  distance from the source population and mobility of predators.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 6

Consider the example of the lime swallowtail, Papilio demoleus, which lives in citrus groves on the island of Hispaniola. Which type of spatial distribution would you expect for this species?

Accepted Answer

A)  random
B)  clustered (clumped) 
C)  uniformD) All of the above
E) A) and C)

Question 7

Consider a population undergoing logistic growth.  d B) b  When (K - N) /K = 0, what does that imply about the birth rate (b)  and death rate (d) ?

Accepted Answer

A)  b > d
B)  b 
C)  b = d
D)  It is not possible to make an inference about b and d from this information.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 8

The diverse array of Anolis lizards on Hispaniola is the result of several different species of lizards originally colonizing the island. Very little diversification occurred after these colonists arrived at Hispaniola.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

When a population is small relative to its carrying capacity, its growth will be:

Accepted Answer

A)  geometric.
B)  exponential.
C)  logistic.
D)  both geometric and exponential.
E)  both geometric and logistic.F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 10

Imagine that a population of meerkats exhibits an exponential growth curve. What does this tell you about the intrinsic growth rate (r)  of the meerkat population?

Accepted Answer

A)  The growth rate is steadily increasing.
B)  The growth rate is steadily decreasing.
C)  The growth rate has remained constant.
D)  The growth rate is fluctuating.
E)  The growth rate increased at first, but then decreased.F) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 11

A scientist is researching a population of blue jays in her city. In order to completely define this blue jay population, she must determine:

Accepted Answer

A)  the size, range, and density of the blue jay population.
B)  the predators and parasites of the blue jay population.
C)  the climates in which the blue jays can survive.
D)  whether the blue jays are r- or K-strategists.
E)  the typical life history for an individual blue jay.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 12

An age structure diagram that is broad at the base and narrow at the top would indicate a _____ population.

Accepted Answer

A)  stable
B)  growing
C)  decliningD) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 13

Which of the following results from a mark-recapture study done on mice would reflect a larger population size?

Accepted Answer

A)  When taking the second sample, 200 individuals are caught and 20 are marked from the first sample.
B)  When taking the second sample, 200 individuals are caught and 80 are marked from the first sample.
C)  Both of these scenarios would result in the same population estimate.D) All of the above
E) B) and C)

Question 14

The life history of an organism takes into account:

Accepted Answer

A)  whether the organism is an r-strategist or K-strategist.
B)  what type of survivorship curve the organism demonstrates.
C)  the resource trade-offs that the organism makes during its lifetime.
D)  the age structure of the organism's local population.
E)  the evolutionary history (i.e., ancestors) of the organism.F) D) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 15

A scientist is studying a population of feral cats in his city. After 10 years, he notes that for the population of feral cats he is studying, (K-N) /K = 0. Based on this information, what can he deduce about the logistic growth curve for the population at this point in time?

Accepted Answer

A)  The curve resembles an exponential growth curve.
B)  The curve is at its inflection point (i.e., the rate of growth has started to slow) .
C)  The curve has plateaued at K.
D)  The curve is at its steepest point.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 16

The figure below illustrates a life-history trade-off between survivorship and reproduction in red deer from the Isle of Rhum in northern Scotland.  At what age is the trade-off maximized (i.e., at what age is the cost of reproduction HIGHEST) ?

Accepted Answer

A)  4 years
B)  6 years
C)  8 years
D)  12 yearsE) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 17

K-strategists tend to inhabit "unpredictable" environments and also have population densities near the carrying capacity of an environment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The growth curve below shows the growth projections for a single population. What would happen if the birth rate were to decline?

Accepted Answer

A)  The graph would shift to the right.
B)  The graph would shift to the left.
C)  The graph would stay the same.D) B) and C)
E) All of the above

Question 19

_____ allows populations to adapt to the abiotic and biotic conditions where they live.

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural selection
B)  Competition
C)  Reproduction
D)  PredationE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 20

A researcher hopes to estimate the size of an E. coli population in a liter of seawater. To do this, he can count the number of E. coli bacteria in a milliliter of seawater and multiply this number by 1000.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 46: Population Ecology

Species' extinction rates on an island are dependent on two things: how large the island is, and the location of the island in relation to other land masses.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The figure below illustrates a life-history trade-off between survivorship and reproduction in red deer from the Isle of Rhum in northern Scotland. At what age is the trade-off maximized (i.e., at what age is the cost of reproduction HIGHEST) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the experiments with moss patches described in your text, what were the two factors that affected insect extinction rates within patches?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

K-strategists tend to inhabit "unpredictable" environments and also have population densities near the carrying capacity of an environment.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When a population is small relative to its carrying capacity, its growth will be:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Consider the example of the lime swallowtail, Papilio demoleus, which lives in citrus groves on the island of Hispaniola. Which type of spatial distribution would you expect for this species?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following results from a mark-recapture study done on mice would reflect a larger population size?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Consider a population undergoing logistic growth. When (K - N) /K = 0, what does that imply about the birth rate (b) and death rate (d) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A scientist is researching a population of blue jays in her city. In order to completely define this blue jay population, she must determine:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A scientist is studying a population of feral cats in his city. After 10 years, he notes that for the population of feral cats he is studying, (K-N) /K = 0. Based on this information, what can he deduce about the logistic growth curve for the population at this point in time?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Imagine that a population of meerkats exhibits an exponential growth curve. What does this tell you about the intrinsic growth rate (r) of the meerkat population?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Habitat fragmentation occurs frequently with current logging practices. The figure below shows a fragmented set of patches in a logged area. At equilibrium, which forest fragment is likely to hold the LARGEST number of species?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The life history of an organism takes into account:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A researcher hopes to estimate the size of an E. coli population in a liter of seawater. To do this, he can count the number of E. coli bacteria in a milliliter of seawater and multiply this number by 1000.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The diverse array of Anolis lizards on Hispaniola is the result of several different species of lizards originally colonizing the island. Very little diversification occurred after these colonists arrived at Hispaniola.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

_____ allows populations to adapt to the abiotic and biotic conditions where they live.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Various species of Anolis lizards are able to coexist on Hispaniola because they function in different niches (e.g., feed on different organisms or hunt in different areas).

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An age structure diagram that is broad at the base and narrow at the top would indicate a _____ population.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The growth curve below shows the growth projections for a single population. What would happen if the birth rate were to decline?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Recall the classic experiments assessing arthropod extinction rates in moss (Figure 46.14) . If corridors are eliminated between moss patches, how does this change affect the arthropods inhabiting the moss?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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