POPULATION DYNAMICS/ECOLOGY
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
\.What is a population? - ANSWERS-a group of individuals of a single
species that occupy the same general area
\.What is population density? What are two way to measure this? -
ANSWERS-number of individuals of a species per unit of area or
volume.
1. count all individuals
2. samplings
\.How does a population differ from a community? - ANSWERS-
Population- group of individuals interacting of a particular species
Community- all populations of organisms living in the same space at the
same time
\.Name and explain the three types of dispersion patterns - ANSWERS-
1. Clumped- found in patches around clumped resources
2. Uniform- found evenly distributed
, 3. Random- has no pattern and is unpredicatable
\.What is a survivorship curve? - ANSWERS-plots the proportion of
individuals alive at each age
\.What are the three types of survivorship curves? - ANSWERS-Type 1-
produce few offspring but give good care, increasing the likelihood they
will survive to maturity ex: humans
Type 2- mortality is consistent throughout life ex: birds
Type 3-high birthrate but very high early mortality rate ex: insects
\.Why dont populations grow exponentially? - ANSWERS-exponential
growth is when the rate of population increases under ideal conditions.
Creates a J-shaped curve when graphed
Uses equation: G=rN
no population can grow exponentially forever because of limiting
factors
\.What is a limiting factor? - ANSWERS-environmental factors that
restrict population growth
may grow exponentially but then level off at the carrying capacity or
overshoot it and brings their numbers back down
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
\.What is a population? - ANSWERS-a group of individuals of a single
species that occupy the same general area
\.What is population density? What are two way to measure this? -
ANSWERS-number of individuals of a species per unit of area or
volume.
1. count all individuals
2. samplings
\.How does a population differ from a community? - ANSWERS-
Population- group of individuals interacting of a particular species
Community- all populations of organisms living in the same space at the
same time
\.Name and explain the three types of dispersion patterns - ANSWERS-
1. Clumped- found in patches around clumped resources
2. Uniform- found evenly distributed
, 3. Random- has no pattern and is unpredicatable
\.What is a survivorship curve? - ANSWERS-plots the proportion of
individuals alive at each age
\.What are the three types of survivorship curves? - ANSWERS-Type 1-
produce few offspring but give good care, increasing the likelihood they
will survive to maturity ex: humans
Type 2- mortality is consistent throughout life ex: birds
Type 3-high birthrate but very high early mortality rate ex: insects
\.Why dont populations grow exponentially? - ANSWERS-exponential
growth is when the rate of population increases under ideal conditions.
Creates a J-shaped curve when graphed
Uses equation: G=rN
no population can grow exponentially forever because of limiting
factors
\.What is a limiting factor? - ANSWERS-environmental factors that
restrict population growth
may grow exponentially but then level off at the carrying capacity or
overshoot it and brings their numbers back down
