Question 1

Use the graph to answer the following question.
 
Based on the figure, which of the following statements correctly interprets the data?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clutch size is always lowest at a density of about 35 females. 
B)  As female density increases, survivorship decreases. 
C)  Clutch size increases as female density increases. 
D)  Clutch size is inversely related to density. 
A)  Clutch size is always lowest at a density of about 35 females. 
B)  As female density increases, survivorship decreases. 
C)  Clutch size increases as female density increases. 
D)  Clutch size is inversely related to density.

Question 2

A recent study of ecological footprints concluded that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's carrying capacity would increase if per capita meat consumption increased 
B)  current demand by industrialized countries for resources is much smaller than the ecological footprint of those countries 
C)  it is not possible for technological improvements to increase Earth's carrying capacity for humans 
D)  the ecological footprint of the United States is large because per capita resource use is high 
A)  Earth's carrying capacity would increase if per capita meat consumption increased 
B)  current demand by industrialized countries for resources is much smaller than the ecological footprint of those countries 
C)  it is not possible for technological improvements to increase Earth's carrying capacity for humans 
D)  the ecological footprint of the United States is large because per capita resource use is high

Question 3

Which of the following is the most important assumption for the mark-recapture method to estimate the size of wildlife populations?

Accepted Answer

A)  More individuals emigrate from, as opposed to immigrate into, a population. 
B)  Over 50% of the marked individuals were trapped during the recapture phase. 
C)  There is a 50:50 ratio of males to females in the population before and after trapping and recapture. 
D)  Marked individuals have the same probability of being recaptured as unmarked individuals during the recapture phase. 
A)  More individuals emigrate from, as opposed to immigrate into, a population. 
B)  Over 50% of the marked individuals were trapped during the recapture phase. 
C)  There is a 50:50 ratio of males to females in the population before and after trapping and recapture. 
D)  Marked individuals have the same probability of being recaptured as unmarked individuals during the recapture phase.

Question 4

A population's carrying capacity

Accepted Answer

A)  may change as environmental conditions change. 
B)  can be accurately calculated using the logistic growth model. 
C)  increases as the per capita population growth rate decreases. 
D)  can never be exceeded. 
A)  may change as environmental conditions change. 
B)  can be accurately calculated using the logistic growth model. 
C)  increases as the per capita population growth rate decreases. 
D)  can never be exceeded.

Question 5

Use the graph to answer the following question.
 
What conclusion can you draw from the figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hares decrease in number just before lynx population size increases. 
B)  Lynx control hare population size. 
C)  Lynx and hare populations are independent of each other. 
D)  The relationship between the populations cannot be determined only from this graph. 
A)  Hares decrease in number just before lynx population size increases. 
B)  Lynx control hare population size. 
C)  Lynx and hare populations are independent of each other. 
D)  The relationship between the populations cannot be determined only from this graph.

Question 6

Use the graph to answer the following question.
 
In the figure, which of the following survivorship curves implies that an animal may lay many eggs, of which a regular number die each year on a logarithmic scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  curve A 
B)  curve B 
C)  curve C 
D)  curves A or C 
A)  curve A 
B)  curve B 
C)  curve C 
D)  curves A or C

Question 7

Imagine that you are managing a large game ranch. You know from historical accounts that a species of deer used to live there, but they have been extirpated. After doing some research to determine what might be an appropriately sized founding population, you reintroduce them. You then watch the population increase for several generations, and graph the number of individuals (vertical axis)against the number of generations (horizontal axis). With no natural predators impacting the population, the graph will likely appear as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a diagonal line, getting higher with each generation 
B)  an "S" that ends with a vertical line 
C)  an upside-down "U" 
D)  a "J," increasing with each generation 
A)  a diagonal line, getting higher with each generation 
B)  an "S" that ends with a vertical line 
C)  an upside-down "U" 
D)  a "J," increasing with each generation

Question 8

Which of the following statements about human populations in industrialized countries is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Birth rates and death rates are high. 
B)  Average family size is relatively small. 
C)  The population has undergone the demographic transition. 
D)  The survivorship curve is Type I. 
A)  Birth rates and death rates are high. 
B)  Average family size is relatively small. 
C)  The population has undergone the demographic transition. 
D)  The survivorship curve is Type I.

Question 9

Use the figure to answer the following question.
 
Based on the figure and given the populations of the following countries, which country uses the most oil overall?

Accepted Answer

A)  United States (population = 320 million) 
B)  Canada (population = 36 million) 
C)  China (population = 1.33 billion) 
D)  Russia (population = 144 million) 
A)  United States (population = 320 million) 
B)  Canada (population = 36 million) 
C)  China (population = 1.33 billion) 
D)  Russia (population = 144 million)

Question 10

Use the figure to answer the following question.
Life Table for Zootoca vivipara in the Netherlands
$\begin{array}{c}
\begin{array}{|l|}
\hline\
\
\
\text {Year}\
\hline0\
\hline1\
\hline2\
\hline3\
\hline4\
\hline5\
\hline6\
\hline7\
\hline
\end{array}
\begin{array}{l|}
\hline\
\
\
\text {Number alive}\
\hline1000\
\hline763\
\hline308\
\hline158\
\hline75\
\hline10\
\hline7\
\hline2\
\hline
\end{array}
\begin{array}{l|}
\hline\
\
\
\text {Survivorship}\
\hline 1.000 \
\hline 0.763 \
\hline 0.308 \
\hline 0.158 \
\hline 0.057 \
\hline 0.010 \
\hline 0.007 \
\hline 0.002 \
\hline
\end{array}
\begin{array}{l|}
\hline \
\
\
\text { Fecundity }\
\hline 0.00\
\hline1.70\
\hline 2.94\
\hline 4.13\
\hline4.88\
\hline6.50\
\hline6.40\
\hline6.30\
\hline
\end{array}
\begin{array}{l|}
\hline\text {Survivorship × Fecundity  = }\
\text {Average Number of }\
\text {Offspring Produced per}\ 
\text {Female of Age $ x $}\
\hline0.00\
\hline1.30\
\hline0.91\
\hline0.65\
\hline0.28\
\hline0.07\
\hline0.04\
\hline0.01\
\hline 
\end{array}
\end{array}$

Data are from Strijbosch and Creemers, 1988.
Using the table, determine which age class year would cause the largest decline in the resulting population growth, if it were wiped out by disease.

Accepted Answer

A)  age class year 1 
B)  age class year 2 
C)  age class year 3 
D)  age class year 4 
A)  age class year 1 
B)  age class year 2 
C)  age class year 3 
D)  age class year 4

Question 11

Why does the U.S. population continue to grow even though the United States has essentially established a zero population growth (ZPG)?

Accepted Answer

A)  emigration 
B)  immigration 
C)  baby boomer reproduction 
D)  the 2007-2009 economic recession 
A)  emigration 
B)  immigration 
C)  baby boomer reproduction 
D)  the 2007-2009 economic recession

Question 12

What is the primary limiting factor that determines why no female animal can produce a very large number of very large eggs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Time is limited. 
B)  There are energy constraints. 
C)  Temperature constraints will prevent females from carrying too many eggs. 
D)  There will be an increase in predation pressure if the females carry too many large eggs. 
A)  Time is limited. 
B)  There are energy constraints. 
C)  Temperature constraints will prevent females from carrying too many eggs. 
D)  There will be an increase in predation pressure if the females carry too many large eggs.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about human population in industrialized countries are correct?
I.Life history is r-selected.
II.The population has undergone the demographic transition.
III.The survivorship curve is Type III.
IV.Age distribution is relatively uniform.

Accepted Answer

A)  only I and III 
B)  only II and IV 
C)  only I, II, and IV 
D)  only II, III, and IV 
A)  only I and III 
B)  only II and IV 
C)  only I, II, and IV 
D)  only II, III, and IV

Question 14

The following question refers to the figure below, which depicts the age structure populations.
 
In the figure, populations of a plant species labeled I, II, and III are depicted using simplified age structures containing three age classes: young seedlings, middle-aged juveniles, and older adults. Which population(s)appear(s)to have stable growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  I 
B)  III 
C)  I and II 
D)  II and III 
A)  I 
B)  III 
C)  I and II 
D)  II and III

Question 15

As N approaches K for a certain population, which of the following outcomes is predicted by the logistic equation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The population growth rate will not change. 
B)  The population growth rate will approach zero. 
C)  The population size will increase exponentially. 
D)  The carrying capacity of the environment will increase. 
A)  The population growth rate will not change. 
B)  The population growth rate will approach zero. 
C)  The population size will increase exponentially. 
D)  The carrying capacity of the environment will increase.

Question 16

Use the table to answer the following question.
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } 
\hline \text { Age (years) } \mathbf { x } & \text { Number alive at start of year } \mathbf { n } _ { \mathbf { x } } & \mathbf { l } _ { \mathbf { x } } \
\hline 1 & 100 & 1.0 \
\hline 2 & 50 & 0.5 \
\hline 3 & 50 & \boldsymbol { y } \
\hline 4 & 10 & \boldsymbol { z } \
\hline
\end{array}$$
In the accompanying life table of a hypothetical population, what are the missing values for lₓ (y and z)? lₓ = the proportion alive at the start of year (age specific survivorship rate).

Accepted Answer

A)  y = 0.5, z = 0.5 
B)  y = 1.0, z = 0.5 
C)  y = 0.5, z = 0.1 
D)  y = 1.0, z = 0.2 
A)  y = 0.5, z = 0.5 
B)  y = 1.0, z = 0.5 
C)  y = 0.5, z = 0.1 
D)  y = 1.0, z = 0.2

Question 17

Which of the following graphs best illustrates the growth curve of a small population of rodents that has increased to a static carrying capacity?

Accepted Answer

A) 
  
B) 
  
C) 
  
D) 
  
A) 
  
B) 
  
C) 
  
D)

Question 18

Which of the following scenarios would provide the most accurate data on population density?

Accepted Answer

A)  Count the number of nests of a particular species of songbird and multiply this by a factor that extrapolates these data to actual animals. 
B)  Count the number of pine trees in several randomly selected 10-meter-square plots and extrapolate this number to the fraction of the study area these plots represent. 
C)  Use the mark-recapture method to estimate the size of the population. 
D)  Calculate the difference between all of the immigrants and emigrants to see if the population is growing or shrinking. 
A)  Count the number of nests of a particular species of songbird and multiply this by a factor that extrapolates these data to actual animals. 
B)  Count the number of pine trees in several randomly selected 10-meter-square plots and extrapolate this number to the fraction of the study area these plots represent. 
C)  Use the mark-recapture method to estimate the size of the population. 
D)  Calculate the difference between all of the immigrants and emigrants to see if the population is growing or shrinking.

Question 19

Use the figures to answer the following question.
 
Based on the diagrams in the figure and on the large population of baby boomers in the United States, which graph best reflects U.S. population in 20 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D

Question 20

Use the survivorship curves in the figure to answer the following question.
 
Which statement best explains survivorship curve B?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is likely a species that provides little postnatal care, but lots of care for offspring during midlife as indicated by increased survivorship. 
B)  This curve is likely for a species that produces lots of offspring, only a few of which are expected to survive. 
C)  It is likely a species where no individuals in the cohort die when they are at 60-70% relative age. 
D)  Survivorship can only decrease; therefore, this curve could not happen in nature. 
A)  It is likely a species that provides little postnatal care, but lots of care for offspring during midlife as indicated by increased survivorship. 
B)  This curve is likely for a species that produces lots of offspring, only a few of which are expected to survive. 
C)  It is likely a species where no individuals in the cohort die when they are at 60-70% relative age. 
D)  Survivorship can only decrease; therefore, this curve could not happen in nature.

Exam 53: Population Ecology

Use the graph to answer the following question. Based on the figure, which of the following statements correctly interprets the data?

A recent study of ecological footprints concluded that ________.

Which of the following is the most important assumption for the mark-recapture method to estimate the size of wildlife populations?

A population's carrying capacity

Use the graph to answer the following question. What conclusion can you draw from the figure?

Use the graph to answer the following question. In the figure, which of the following survivorship curves implies that an animal may lay many eggs, of which a regular number die each year on a logarithmic scale?

Which of the following statements about human populations in industrialized countries is incorrect?

Use the figure to answer the following question. Based on the figure and given the populations of the following countries, which country uses the most oil overall?

Why does the U.S. population continue to grow even though the United States has essentially established a zero population growth (ZPG)?

What is the primary limiting factor that determines why no female animal can produce a very large number of very large eggs?

Which of the following statements about human population in industrialized countries are correct? I.Life history is r-selected. II.The population has undergone the demographic transition. III.The survivorship curve is Type III. IV.Age distribution is relatively uniform.

As N approaches K for a certain population, which of the following outcomes is predicted by the logistic equation?

Which of the following graphs best illustrates the growth curve of a small population of rodents that has increased to a static carrying capacity?

Which of the following scenarios would provide the most accurate data on population density?

Use the figures to answer the following question. Based on the diagrams in the figure and on the large population of baby boomers in the United States, which graph best reflects U.S. population in 20 years?

Use the survivorship curves in the figure to answer the following question. Which statement best explains survivorship curve B?

Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

DNA Tools and Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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