Ecology and Population Dynamics Quiz

What is the study of groups within a species that interact mostly with each other called?

• Community ecology

• Ecosystem ecology

• Population ecology

• Biotic ecology

What year did the significant outbreak of West Nile virus occur in Dallas, Texas?

• 2010

• 2013

• 2012

• 2011

What is a key factor that needs to be considered when studying population ecology?

• Climate change

• Species diversity

• Population density

• Organism lifespan

Which factor contributed to the rapid growth of the mosquito population in Dallas in 2012?

• Hot and dry conditions

• Decreased bird population

• Cold temperatures

• Increased rainfall

What type of limiting factor depends on the population density?

• Biotic factor

• Density-independent

• Density-dependent

• Abiotic factor

What does carrying capacity refer to in an ecological context?

• The number of species that can coexist

• The maximum population an environment can sustain

• The maximum population size that can leave an area

• The total area an ecosystem covers

How can a severe thunderstorm affect a mosquito population?

• Increase in food availability

• Disruption of egg clutches

• Decrease in predation

• Increase in water sources for breeding

What type of growth do populations experience when not limited by resources?

• Static growth

• Exponential growth

• Logistic growth

• Linear growth

What is the result of exponential growth in a population?

• Rapid increase in population size

• Stable population size

• Quick decline in population size

• No change in population size

What happens to a population when it reaches its carrying capacity?

• It continues to grow exponentially

• It fluctuates wildly

• It stabilizes or decreases

• It migrates to new locations