Question 1

Which of the following best describes the two main features of organisms studied by ecologists?

Accepted Answer

Their distribution and abundance

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor that can influence the distribution of terrestrial biomes?

Accepted Answer

Average annual temperature

Question 3

A scientist is studying a freshwater lake and notes that the fish species present are different from those in a nearby saltwater estuary. Which factor most likely explains this difference?

Accepted Answer

The abiotic factor of salinity

Question 4

Which of the following best describes a biome?

Accepted Answer

A large geographic area characterized by specific climate conditions and particular types of plants and animals

Question 5

Which of the following is a biotic factor that could affect the distribution of a population?

Accepted Answer

Predation by another species

Question 6

A population of rabbits in a meadow is limited by the availability of grass. If the grass supply decreases due to drought, what type of factor is affecting the rabbit population?

Accepted Answer

Abiotic factor

Question 7

Which of the following best describes Type I survivorship curves?

Accepted Answer

High survivorship in early and middle life, followed by a rapid decline in survivorship in later life

Question 8

Which equation represents the logistic model of population growth?

Accepted Answer

$dN/dt = rN \left(1 - \frac{N}{K}\right)$

Question 9

In the logistic growth model, what does the term $K$ represent?

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity of the environment

Question 10

A population of deer is growing rapidly but begins to slow as resources become limited. Which phase of the logistic growth curve does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Deceleration phase as the population approaches carrying capacity

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent factor affecting population growth?

Accepted Answer

Spread of disease in a crowded population

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a density-independent factor affecting population growth?

Accepted Answer

A severe drought reducing water availability

Question 13

A population of insects experiences a sudden drop in numbers after a cold snap, regardless of its size. What type of factor is responsible?

Accepted Answer

Density-independent factor

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why K-selected populations tend to have stable population sizes?

Accepted Answer

They invest more in fewer offspring and are regulated by density-dependent factors

Question 15

Which of the following is a real-world example of a population regulated by density-dependent factors?

Accepted Answer

A bacterial population in a petri dish that stops growing when nutrients run out

Question 16

If a population's per capita rate of increase ($r$) is 0.2 per year and the population size ($N$) is 500, what is the expected annual increase in population size under exponential growth?

Accepted Answer

$dN/dt = rN = 0.2 	imes 500 = 100$

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the difference between dispersion and dispersal in population ecology?

Accepted Answer

Dispersion refers to the spatial arrangement of individuals, while dispersal is the movement of individuals away from their origin

Question 18

Which survivorship curve is most likely to be observed in a population of oysters, where most individuals die young but a few survive to old age?

Accepted Answer

Type III

Question 19

A population of mice is introduced to an island with abundant resources and no predators. Which growth model would best describe the initial population increase?

Accepted Answer

Exponential growth model

Question 20

Which of the following statements about carrying capacity ($K$) is correct?

Accepted Answer

It is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely

Ecology and Population Dynamics: Study Notes for General Biology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards