Exam 19: Population Ecology

Throughout most of human history, human population size ________.

Weasels are a natural predator of bats. Since bats sleep during the day, weasels can climb to where they roost and feed on them. Suppose you want to design a study to see if weasels and bats demonstrate a boom and bust relationship in population size. What is the best first step to take?

An unexpected freeze that kills a population of chipmunks is an example of ________.

When forest areas are clear-cut for timber, spaces previously filled with trees become open areas that have full access to sunlight. Which plant populations would be best suited for this newly generated environment?

The figure shows three different ponds used by scientists to study if blocking access to the ponds would limit can toad invasion. Which pond was the control for the experiment?

Chinese privet is a plant that is native to China. Over 150 years ago, Chinese privet was introduced to the United States as a fast-growing shrub that serves as an excellent privacy hedge. With no natural herbivore, Chinese privet quickly established itself and spread in natural areas throughout the southeast and eastern seaboard of the United States. Its dominance in these areas has jeopardized the survival of native plant species. Chinese privet provides evidence that ________.

Which of these factors operates on populations in a density-dependent manner?

What is a characteristic of Type I survivorship curves?

Which is an example of a population?

Scenario Michigan's Isle Royale is an island located in Lake Superior that is 45 miles long and 9 miles wide. Ecologists estimate that the moose population on the island has been there since approximately the year 1900. The wolf population on the island, on the other hand, has been there only since the winter of 1949. Weather conditions had to be calm and cold enough for the lake to freeze so that the first wolves could make the passage over to the island. When the wolves arrived, they were greeted with a large moose population that had no predators. The moose population was at a dangerously high level but was kept in check by the arrival of the wolves. This "harmonious" pattern continued for at least 20 years. In 1982, the wolf population suddenly crashed because of a new canine virus believed to have been carried to the island carried on the shoe of a human traveler. While the wolf population size decreased from 50 to 14 individuals in a year, the moose population increased. However, the winter of 1996 was extremely harsh and the moose population experienced a major crash. More than 500 moose died during the winter months, reducing the population to less than 800 animals. -During a 1-year study, a graduate student attempted to count the wolves and moose on the island. She estimated that there were 950 moose and 120 wolves. How many organisms, populations, and species were included in this study?

The figure shows population cycles of snowshoe hare and lynx. Recent field studies suggest that the most likely explanation for these cycles is ________.

In an ideal, unlimited environment, a population's growth follows a(n)________ model.

Which option best describes Type III survivorship curves?

In an ideal, unlimited environment, what shape does a population's growth curve most closely resemble?

In most developed countries, overall population growth rates ________.

You arrive back in the United States after having visited a foreign country located on another continent. The customs agent stops the person in front of you and confiscates the fruit basket this person is bringing home. Being the knowledgeable person you are, you calmly explain to your enraged fellow traveler that the reason for the detainment is that the fruit basket may be ________.

In 2012, the Global Footprint Network reported that ________.

The line in between the data points on the curve is a trend line; a trend line shows the general pattern of the data points. In the curve, the trend line indicates that male fur seals reached carrying capacity in the year ________.

Scenario In May 2014, the European Union (EU)published a report of population structure and aging data that described growing trends of low birth rates and longer life expectancies in the EU. In their report, the EU described that due to these trends, some EU member states were beginning to demonstrate a population structure with many much-older individuals. -Why might this changing population structure be a concern for EU leaders?

Over time, the populations of most species ________.