Question 1

Which situation would result in a population represented by an inverted triangular population pyramid, which is heaviest at the top?

Accepted Answer

A)  rapid population growth 
B)  population stabilization 
C)  a "boom and bust" cycle 
D)  a population decline 
A)  rapid population growth 
B)  population stabilization 
C)  a "boom and bust" cycle 
D)  a population decline

Question 2

True or false: The carrying capacity of a given geographic region for a single population can change over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which factor is a population-limiting, density-dependent factor?

Accepted Answer

A)  a heavy flood that destroys a large area around a river 
B)  a heat wave in which some organisms can't survive 
C)  a drought that limits food availability 
D)  the rapid spread of tuberculosis in heavily populated areas 
A)  a heavy flood that destroys a large area around a river 
B)  a heat wave in which some organisms can't survive 
C)  a drought that limits food availability 
D)  the rapid spread of tuberculosis in heavily populated areas

Question 4

Which assumption applies to the mark-recapture method?

Accepted Answer

A)  Marked individuals become "trap-happy" relative to unmarked individuals. 
B)  Marked individuals avoid recapture, relative to unmarked individuals. 
C)  Few individuals enter or leave the study area during the period between mark and recapture. 
D)  The population size changes dramatically between the time of mark and recapture. 
A)  Marked individuals become "trap-happy" relative to unmarked individuals. 
B)  Marked individuals avoid recapture, relative to unmarked individuals. 
C)  Few individuals enter or leave the study area during the period between mark and recapture. 
D)  The population size changes dramatically between the time of mark and recapture.

Question 5

True or false: Scientists agree on the size of the carrying capacity of Earth for the human population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What does a completely columnar population pyramid represent?

Accepted Answer

A)  proportionally more young than middle-aged or elderly people 
B)  equal proportions of young, middle-aged, and elderly people 
C)  proportionally more middle-aged and elderly than young people 
D)  proportionally more middle-aged than elderly and/or young people 
A)  proportionally more young than middle-aged or elderly people 
B)  equal proportions of young, middle-aged, and elderly people 
C)  proportionally more middle-aged and elderly than young people 
D)  proportionally more middle-aged than elderly and/or young people

Question 7

Which factor has dramatically decreased infant mortality in human populations?

Accepted Answer

A)  a shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy 
B)  the use of pesticides to reduce mosquito populations 
C)  the choice made by educated women to have fewer children 
D)  an increase in poverty in developed countries 
A)  a shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy 
B)  the use of pesticides to reduce mosquito populations 
C)  the choice made by educated women to have fewer children 
D)  an increase in poverty in developed countries

Question 8

Which experiment would not be considered an ecological study?

Accepted Answer

A)  the effect of a housing development on a spotted salamander population in a vernal pool 
B)  the effect of changing availability of acorns on a population of squirrels 
C)  the effect of a red tide outbreak on sea birds in the area 
D)  the effect of a hormone on the rate of blood vessel formation 
A)  the effect of a housing development on a spotted salamander population in a vernal pool 
B)  the effect of changing availability of acorns on a population of squirrels 
C)  the effect of a red tide outbreak on sea birds in the area 
D)  the effect of a hormone on the rate of blood vessel formation

Question 9

Which population was unaffected by density-dependent factors?

Accepted Answer

A)  elk in Yellowstone National Park in the 1970s 
B)  Norway lemmings 
C)  yeast that ferment grape juice into wine 
D)  bacteria kept in a culture that has its nutrients constantly replenished 
A)  elk in Yellowstone National Park in the 1970s 
B)  Norway lemmings 
C)  yeast that ferment grape juice into wine 
D)  bacteria kept in a culture that has its nutrients constantly replenished

Question 10

What characteristics apply to developed countries?

Accepted Answer

A)  industrial economies and low individual incomes 
B)  agricultural economies and high individual incomes 
C)  agricultural economies and low individual incomes 
D)  industrial economies and high individual incomes 
A)  industrial economies and low individual incomes 
B)  agricultural economies and high individual incomes 
C)  agricultural economies and low individual incomes 
D)  industrial economies and high individual incomes

Question 11

What is the steep and sudden decline in a population size as birth rates plummet and death rates soar?

Accepted Answer

A)  carrying capacity 
B)  a "boom and bust" cycle 
C)  demographic momentum 
D)  a population crash 
A)  carrying capacity 
B)  a "boom and bust" cycle 
C)  demographic momentum 
D)  a population crash

Question 12

By how many people does the global human population increase each day?

Accepted Answer

A)  1000 
B)  12,500 
C)  250,000 
D)  2,500,000 
A)  1000 
B)  12,500 
C)  250,000 
D)  2,500,000

Question 13

Which factor may result in the actual carrying capacity of our planet being lower than initially calculated?

Accepted Answer

A)  The average American uses more resources than someone from another country. 
B)  Modern food production relies on nonrenewable resources. 
C)  NPP has been decreasing. 
D)  The human population is growing much faster than was previously thought. 
A)  The average American uses more resources than someone from another country. 
B)  Modern food production relies on nonrenewable resources. 
C)  NPP has been decreasing. 
D)  The human population is growing much faster than was previously thought.

Question 14

What type of distribution would include the evenly spaced distribution of stalks of corn planted in an agricultural field?

Accepted Answer

A)  a clumped distribution 
B)  a uniform distribution 
C)  a random distribution 
D)  no distribution 
A)  a clumped distribution 
B)  a uniform distribution 
C)  a random distribution 
D)  no distribution

Question 15

What is the birth rate in a population in which 35 babies are born per every 1000 people in the population each year?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.35 
B)  35% 
C)  3.5% 
D)  0.35% 
A)  0.35 
B)  35% 
C)  3.5% 
D)  0.35%

Question 16

Why may human populations surpass the carrying capacity of their environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  temporary reliance on stored or nonrenewable resources 
B)  sudden population crashes 
C)  increases in death rates as the population growth approaches carrying capacity 
D)  decreases in birth rates as resources are depleted 
A)  temporary reliance on stored or nonrenewable resources 
B)  sudden population crashes 
C)  increases in death rates as the population growth approaches carrying capacity 
D)  decreases in birth rates as resources are depleted

Question 17

Which description applies to a population that's exhibiting exponential growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  It will have growth proportional to the current total. 
B)  It shows a decreased growth rate over time. 
C)  It doubles every year. 
D)  It has as many individuals being born as are dying. 
A)  It will have growth proportional to the current total. 
B)  It shows a decreased growth rate over time. 
C)  It doubles every year. 
D)  It has as many individuals being born as are dying.

Question 18

Red maple tree seeds are dispersed by the wind. This species of tree can be found in fields, woods, and even wetlands. What type of distribution applies to this example?

Accepted Answer

A)  clumped 
B)  uniform 
C)  random 
D)  normal 
A)  clumped 
B)  uniform 
C)  random 
D)  normal

Question 19

What would happen if everyone on the planet used resources and lived the average lifestyle of an American?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Earth would have the carrying capacity to sustain the human population. 
B)  The population growth rate would immediately decrease. 
C)  We would need multiple Earths for this to be possible. 
D)  There would be same number of people in less-developed countries as there are Americans. 
A)  The Earth would have the carrying capacity to sustain the human population. 
B)  The population growth rate would immediately decrease. 
C)  We would need multiple Earths for this to be possible. 
D)  There would be same number of people in less-developed countries as there are Americans.

Question 20

What group is represented by all of the bacteria species E. coli living inside a cow's intestine?

Accepted Answer

A)  community 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  demographic transition 
A)  community 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  demographic transition

Exam 14: Is the Human Population Too Large Population Ecology

Which situation would result in a population represented by an inverted triangular population pyramid, which is heaviest at the top?

True or false: The carrying capacity of a given geographic region for a single population can change over time.

Which factor is a population-limiting, density-dependent factor?

Which assumption applies to the mark-recapture method?

True or false: Scientists agree on the size of the carrying capacity of Earth for the human population.

What does a completely columnar population pyramid represent?

Which factor has dramatically decreased infant mortality in human populations?

Which experiment would not be considered an ecological study?

Which population was unaffected by density-dependent factors?

What characteristics apply to developed countries?

What is the steep and sudden decline in a population size as birth rates plummet and death rates soar?

By how many people does the global human population increase each day?

Which factor may result in the actual carrying capacity of our planet being lower than initially calculated?

What type of distribution would include the evenly spaced distribution of stalks of corn planted in an agricultural field?

What is the birth rate in a population in which 35 babies are born per every 1000 people in the population each year?

Why may human populations surpass the carrying capacity of their environment?

Which description applies to a population that's exhibiting exponential growth?

Red maple tree seeds are dispersed by the wind. This species of tree can be found in fields, woods, and even wetlands. What type of distribution applies to this example?

What would happen if everyone on the planet used resources and lived the average lifestyle of an American?

What group is represented by all of the bacteria species E. coli living inside a cow's intestine?

Can Science Cure the Common Cold Introduction to the Scientific Method

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Is It Possible to Supplement Your Way to Better Performance and Health

Body Weight and Health: Enzymes, Metabolism, and Cellular Respiration

Life in the Greenhouse: Photosynthesis and Climate Change

Cancer: DNA Synthesis, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Are You Only As Smart As Your Genes Mendelian and Quantitative Genetics

DNA Detective: Complex Patterns of Inheritance and Dna Profiling

Genetically Modified Organisms: Gene Expression, Mutation,

Where Did We Come From the Evidence for Evolution

An Evolving Enemy: Natural Selection

Who Am I Species and Races

The Greatest Species on Earth Biodiversity and Classification

Conserving Biodiversity: Community and Ecosystem Ecology

Where Do You Live Climate and Biomes

Organ Donation: Tissues and Organs

Binge Drinking: the Digestive and Urinary Systems

Clearing the Air: Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems

Vaccination: Protection and Prevention or Peril Immune System,

Human Sex Differences: Endocrine, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems

Is There Something in the Water Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Study Drugs: Brain Boost or Brain Drain Brain Structure and Function

Feeding the World: Plant Structure and Growth

Growing a Green Thumb: Plant Physiology

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