Exam 54: Populations

The equation ΔN = (B - D) can be used to represent the growth rate of a population.This equation is valid in which situations?

African elephants take many years to reach sexual maturity.A female usually gives birth to one calf at a time and cares for the calf for several years.The best description for an African elephant population is

Given that the amount of space on Earth has not changed since Malthus's time, what space-related factor has most enabled the great increase in the carrying capacity for humans?

A graph of a population's logistic growth over time resembles which of the following shapes?

Refer to the graph below. The size of a deer population in an enclosed, protected area was measured over several years and found to be following the red (left) growth curve shown.After several years of drought, its population size more closely followed the blue (right) curve.What factor probably caused the change in the deer's population growth?

Prey animals like bacteria, yeast, and phytoplankton often undergo "boom and bust" cycles: a population explosion followed by a population crash.Predators might be important to these cycles because they

A population can grow at its maximum rate, that is, exponentially, under what circumstances?

A forest manager takes a census of white-tailed deer in a forest during a single week in the spring.He counts all deer seen and divides them into estimated age classes.The life table he builds from these data will be a(n) _______ life table.

An r-strategist species typically does not

Refer to the graph below, which shows the change in human life expectancy since 1840.(Values after 2000, indicated by a dashed line, are extrapolated.) Which statement best expresses the reasons behind this continuing increase in life expectancy?

The peregrine falcon is widely distributed over all continents except Antarctica, due to its ability to survive a wide range of climatic conditions.This statement describes the peregrine falcon's

Which change in the demographics of the United States is least likely to have an effect on the national rate of population growth?

Refer to the mark-recapture equation below. In an effort to measure the size of a bluegill population in a pond, you capture 40 bluegills, mark each with a tag on the tail fin, and then release them.A week later you return to the pond and catch 40 more bluegills, eight of which have tags on the tail fin.In the equation, n₁ is the total number of individuals in the first sample (captured, marked, and released); n₂ is the total number of individuals in the second sample; and M is the number of marked individuals recaptured in second sample.Which is the best estimate of the overall size of this bluegill population?

A small group of islands provides habitat for seabirds of a single species.The islands are close together, and although most seabirds usually nest on the same island, some fly from island to island and remain to mate with members of the local population.Would the seabirds on these islands be considered a metapopulation?

Europeans brought domesticated honeybees to North America.The bees escaped to the wild and now live throughout the continent.A single queen lives up to 5 years and is the only reproducing female; she produces thousands of eggs over her lifetime.Workers live only for a summer.When the colony becomes too large, the queen goes on a flight (swarm) with some of the workers to locate a new colony site.A young queen takes over the original hive.Of the following honeybee life history characteristics, which is most likely to have contributed to their dispersal success?

Refer to the equations shown. A starting population has 150 animals.During the year, 50 animals are born and 30 die.Ten animals immigrate into the population, and 5 emigrate.At the end of the year, what is the per capita growth rate for this population?

Members of a bird species defend a specific territory during the breeding season.Each breeding pair builds a nest within their territory and feeds its hatchlings from resources inside the territory.The male of the pair warns off others of the species who get too close.This situation represents which type of population dispersion?

Thousands of grasshoppers of the same species live on a single plot of land.They feed on plants in the fields and gardens and reproduce within their own group.This group of grasshoppers represents a

The largest grouping of organisms of one species would be described as its

Some members of a species live in a cold environment.They spend much of their energy on maintaining body temperature and finding food, and they have few offspring.Members of the same species living in a more moderate environment allocate more of their energy to reproduction and have more offspring.The two species groups are illustrating the use of _______ to optimize their survival in different habitats.