POPULATION ECOLOGY TEST

Front

What is population ecology?

Back

Population ecology is the study of how populations of organisms interact with their environment and how factors such as resource availability, competition, and predation affect population size and dynamics.

Front

Define carrying capacity.

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum sustainable population size that an environment can support without degrading the habitat.

Front

What does exponential growth in a population indicate?

Back

Exponential growth indicates that a population is increasing rapidly without any resource limitations, leading to a J-shaped growth curve.

Front

What is logistic growth?

Back

Logistic growth is a model of population growth that accounts for resource limitations, resulting in an S-shaped curve as the population approaches carrying capacity.

Front

What is doubling time in population ecology?

Back

Doubling time is the period it takes for a population to double in size.

Front

What factors can lead to emigration in a population?

Back

Factors such as resource scarcity, environmental changes, or increased competition can lead to emigration, where individuals leave a population.

Front

What is the difference between immigration and emigration?

Back

Immigration is the movement of individuals into a population, while emigration is the movement of individuals out of a population.

Front

How do birth and death rates affect population size?

Back

Birth rates increase population size, while death rates decrease it. The balance between these rates determines overall population growth.

Front

What is a density-dependent factor?

Back

Density-dependent factors are environmental factors whose effects on a population change as population density changes, such as competition and predation.

Front

What is a density-independent factor?

Back

Density-independent factors are environmental factors that affect populations regardless of their density, such as natural disasters or climate changes.