BIO 182 MODULES 5 & 6 — QUESTIONS
AND COMPLETE ANSWERS| WELL
ILLUSTRATED| ALREADY GRADED A+|
(2025 UPDATE)
1. Which group is not a population?
A. People
B. Bacteria
C. Giant pandas
D. Bark scorpions
E. All four groups are populations
ANSWER ✔✔ E
2. How would you estimate the number of whales in a population?
ANSWER ✔✔ Mark and recapture
3. True or False? Sampling quadrants would be the better method for estimating the
number of whales in a population.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Reason: Whales are mobile; quadrants may double-count or miss individuals. Mark and
recapture is better.
4. True or False? Mark and recapture would be the better method for estimating the
number of saguaros (cacti) in a population.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Reason: Saguaros don’t move; sampling quadrants work better.
5. True or False? The shrinking population between 1965 and 1970 could have resulted
from a decrease in the birth rate or an increase in the death rate.
ANSWER ✔✔ True
, 6. True or False? The growing population between 1985 and 1995 could have resulted from
a decrease in emigration or an increase in immigration.
ANSWER ✔✔ True
7. Why do bluegills nest on the edge of the lake?
ANSWER ✔✔
Shallow water: more solar radiation, more zooplankton (food), protection from larger fish, algae
for hiding, warmer water for embryo development.
8. Write a Figure Legend:
ANSWER ✔✔
Bluegills prefer warmer water; given a choice between 27°C and 31°C, they spend most time at
31°C.
9. True or False? If males compete for space, a large male will likely force a small male to
spend less time on the side of the tank with the optimal temperature.
ANSWER ✔✔ True
10. True or False? Both models assume that no individuals immigrate into the population.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
11. True or False? Competing species are more likely to coexist if their growth rates (r1
and r2) increase.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Reason: Growth rates affect how fast populations grow but don’t determine coexistence.
Carrying capacities (K1, K2) and competition coefficients (α, β) matter more.
12. True or False? Paramecium are most likely to persist at intermediate temperatures?
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Paramecium likely go extinct at intermediate temps due to competitive pressure.
AND COMPLETE ANSWERS| WELL
ILLUSTRATED| ALREADY GRADED A+|
(2025 UPDATE)
1. Which group is not a population?
A. People
B. Bacteria
C. Giant pandas
D. Bark scorpions
E. All four groups are populations
ANSWER ✔✔ E
2. How would you estimate the number of whales in a population?
ANSWER ✔✔ Mark and recapture
3. True or False? Sampling quadrants would be the better method for estimating the
number of whales in a population.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Reason: Whales are mobile; quadrants may double-count or miss individuals. Mark and
recapture is better.
4. True or False? Mark and recapture would be the better method for estimating the
number of saguaros (cacti) in a population.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Reason: Saguaros don’t move; sampling quadrants work better.
5. True or False? The shrinking population between 1965 and 1970 could have resulted
from a decrease in the birth rate or an increase in the death rate.
ANSWER ✔✔ True
, 6. True or False? The growing population between 1985 and 1995 could have resulted from
a decrease in emigration or an increase in immigration.
ANSWER ✔✔ True
7. Why do bluegills nest on the edge of the lake?
ANSWER ✔✔
Shallow water: more solar radiation, more zooplankton (food), protection from larger fish, algae
for hiding, warmer water for embryo development.
8. Write a Figure Legend:
ANSWER ✔✔
Bluegills prefer warmer water; given a choice between 27°C and 31°C, they spend most time at
31°C.
9. True or False? If males compete for space, a large male will likely force a small male to
spend less time on the side of the tank with the optimal temperature.
ANSWER ✔✔ True
10. True or False? Both models assume that no individuals immigrate into the population.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
11. True or False? Competing species are more likely to coexist if their growth rates (r1
and r2) increase.
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Reason: Growth rates affect how fast populations grow but don’t determine coexistence.
Carrying capacities (K1, K2) and competition coefficients (α, β) matter more.
12. True or False? Paramecium are most likely to persist at intermediate temperatures?
ANSWER ✔✔ False
Paramecium likely go extinct at intermediate temps due to competitive pressure.
