Studying Populations in Ecology

What is ecology?

• the study of interactions between organisms and their environments

• the study of animals

• the study of how genes are passed down from generation to generation

• the study of rocks

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

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Match the following levels of classification to the pictures:

• Community

• 
• Population

• 
• Ecosystem

• 
• Organism

• 

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Match the following levels of classification to their definitions:

• Ecosystem

• All the different living things

• Population

• 1 individual

• Community

• All the biotic and abiotic things

• Organism

• All the same species

What two factors decrease the population size?

• Births

• Deaths

• Immigration

• Emigration

Answer explanation

Deaths + emigration (individuals leaving the population) cause the population size to decrease.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What two factors increase the population size?

• Births

• Deaths

• Immigration

• Emigration

Answer explanation

Births + immigration (individuals joining the population) cause the population size to increase.

Carrying capacity is the ​ (a)   number of organisms that can survive in an area based on the available ​ (b)   , such as food and water.

• maximum
• resources
• minimum
• predators

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

In a forest, the carrying capacity for squirrels is about 100. If humans cut down part of the forest to build houses, what will happen to the carrying capacity for the squirrels?

• it will increase

• it will decrease

• it will stay the same

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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The highest population an environment can support is called

• a limiting factor

• exponential growth

• carrying capacity

When there is a drought and there is limited water, the water would

• cause exponential growth

• be a limiting factor

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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What do limiting factors do?

• Separate biotic factors from abiotic factors.

• Determine which is the predator and which is the prey.

• Regulate how many organisms live in an ecosystem.

• Determine which natural disasters will hit an area.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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