Question 1

Which of the following best describes a population in the context of population ecology?

Accepted Answer

A group of individuals of a single species living in the same general area.

Question 2

A survivorship curve that is approximately a straight line, such as that for Belding's ground squirrels, indicates which pattern of survivorship?

Accepted Answer

Type II: constant death rate over the life span.

Question 3

Which of the following is a trade-off associated with a Type III survivorship curve?

Accepted Answer

Producing many offspring with little or no parental care.

Question 4

Given the population growth equation $\Delta N = B - D$, where $B$ is the number of births and $D$ is the number of deaths during a time interval, what is the population size change if a population has 50 births and 30 deaths in one year?

Accepted Answer

$\Delta N = 20$

Question 5

If the per capita birth rate $b$ is 0.04 and the per capita death rate $m$ is 0.02, what is the per capita rate of increase $r$?

Accepted Answer

$r = 0.02$

Question 6

Which equation correctly represents exponential population growth?

Accepted Answer

$\frac{dN}{dt} = rN$

Question 7

A population of elephants in a national park grows rapidly after hunting is banned. Which model best describes this initial growth phase?

Accepted Answer

Exponential growth model

Question 8

In the logistic growth model, what happens to the per capita rate of increase as the population size $N$ approaches the carrying capacity $K$?

Accepted Answer

It decreases.

Question 9

Which equation represents the logistic growth model?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

A population of paramecia in a laboratory overshoots its carrying capacity before stabilizing. What does this suggest about the population's response to limiting resources?

Accepted Answer

The population initially grows exponentially, then slows as resources become limiting.

Question 11

Which life history trait is most likely to be favored in a highly disturbed environment where offspring survival is low?

Accepted Answer

Producing many small offspring with little parental care.

Question 12

If a country has a population pyramid heavily skewed toward young individuals, what can be predicted about its future population growth?

Accepted Answer

The population will likely experience rapid growth.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the demographic transition?

Accepted Answer

A shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.

Question 14

The ecological footprint of a country is defined as:

Accepted Answer

The aggregate land and water area needed to sustain a person, city, or nation.

Question 15

If the average ecological footprint per person in the United States is 8 global hectares (gha) and the sustainable allotment is 1.7 gha per person, what does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Resource use exceeds sustainable levels.

Question 16

A population of 1,000 individuals has an annual per capita birth rate $b = 0.03$ and per capita death rate $m = 0.01$. What is the expected change in population size after one year?

Accepted Answer

$\Delta N = 20$

Question 17

Which of the following scenarios would most likely result in zero population growth (ZPG)?

Accepted Answer

Birth rate equals death rate.

Question 18

Which survivorship curve type is most commonly associated with humans and other large mammals?

Accepted Answer

Type I

Question 19

If a population is growing exponentially with a per capita rate of increase $r = 0.05$ and a population size $N = 500$, what is the instantaneous rate of change in population size?

Accepted Answer

$\frac{dN}{dt} = 25$

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a key component of an organism's life history?

Accepted Answer

The organism's ecological footprint

Population Ecology: Principles, Models, and Human Impact

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