Understanding Population Dynamics in Ecosystems

What type of environment supports thousands of the same species of trees?

• Tundra

• Desert

• Grassland

• Rainforest

What happens to a population when resources are scarce?

• It migrates

• It increases

• It decreases

• It stabilizes

What is the term used to describe the maximum number of individuals an environment can support?

• Carrying capacity

• Environmental limit

• Biotic potential

• Population threshold

Which factor is NOT a limiting factor for a population?

• Number of predators

• Annual rainfall

• Migration patterns

• Type of soil

What are abiotic factors?

• Predatory animals

• Diseases affecting populations

• Types of vegetation

• Non-living environmental elements

How did the reintroduction of wolves affect the elk population in Yellowstone?

• Population increased

• Elk migrated out

• No change

• Population decreased

What impact did high fluoride and silica levels in water have on elk in Yellowstone?

• Made them stronger

• Increased their lifespan

• Caused faster tooth wear

• Improved their health

What is an example of an abiotic factor that affected the elk population?

• Reintroduction of wolves

• High fluoride levels in water

• Increase in zebra population

• Spread of disease

Match the following

• emigration

• largest number of individuals in a population that the environment can support

• immigration

• movement of individuals out of an area

• carrying capacity

• movement of individuals into an area

What is the number of individuals that can be supported by the environment?

• Carrying capacity

• Population density

• Dispersion patterns

• Symbiosis