Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

A group of interbreeding individuals of the same species occupying the same habitat at the same time.

Question 2

A researcher is studying a fish species that only exists in a single spring in southern Nevada. What term best describes the geographic range of this species?

Accepted Answer

Limited geographic range

Question 3

Which method would be most appropriate for estimating the population size of a highly mobile animal species?

Accepted Answer

Mark-recapture method

Question 4

Which dispersion pattern is most likely to result from competition for resources such as water among desert shrubs?

Accepted Answer

Uniform

Question 5

A population of salmon spawns once in its lifetime and then dies. This reproductive strategy is called:

Accepted Answer

Semelparity

Question 6

Which equation correctly represents the calculation for the net reproductive rate ($$R_0) of a $$population?

Accepted Answer

$$R_0$$ = \sum L_x m_x$$

Question 7

If a population has a net reproductive rate ($$R_0) $$less than 1, what will happen to the population size over time?

Accepted Answer

It will decrease.

Question 8

Which of the following is a characteristic of r-selected species?

Accepted Answer

High rate of per capita population growth

Question 9

A population of birds is found in large groups around food sources. What is the most likely dispersion pattern?

Accepted Answer

Clumped

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the exponential growth model?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

Which survivorship curve is characterized by most individuals dying late in life?

Accepted Answer

Type I

Question 12

A population of rodents is being studied. The researchers find that the population has many young individuals and few old ones. What does this suggest about the population's growth?

Accepted Answer

The population is increasing.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a tool of demography?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthetic rates

Question 14

In the logistic growth model, what happens to the population growth rate as the population size ($$N) $$approaches the carrying capacity ($$K$$)?

Accepted Answer

It decreases and approaches zero.

Question 15

Which of the following is a real-world example of a K-selected species?

Accepted Answer

Elephant

Question 16

A researcher uses the mark-recapture method to estimate a population. Which of the following could bias the results?

Accepted Answer

Marked animals avoid traps in the future.

Question 17

Which equation would you use to predict the future size of a population given the current size ($$N_t) $$and net reproductive rate ($$R_0$$)?

Accepted Answer

$$N_{t+1} = N_t R_0$

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the difference between semelparity and iteroparity?

Accepted Answer

Semelparity involves one reproductive event; iteroparity involves multiple.

Question 19

Which scenario would most likely result in a random dispersion pattern?

Accepted Answer

Resources are abundant and common, with little competition.

Question 20

A population of beavers is studied using life tables. If the age-specific survivorship ($$L_x) $$for age class 2 is 0.8 and the age-specific fertility ($$m_x) is 1.2$$, what is the contribution of this age class to overall population growth?

Accepted Answer

$$L_x m_x = 0.96$$

Population Ecology: Structure, Dynamics, and Life History Strategies

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