Population Growth and Carrying Capacity Review

Consider the data for competing predators, wolves and mountain lions, in several counties. If the wolf population in Clay County increases and approaches 80 wolves, what would we expect to happen to the mountain lion population?

• The mountain lion population would remain high

• The mountain lion population would drop below its current level

• The wolf and mountain lion populations would balance out at 85 each

• The mountain lion population would decrease and eventually reach zero

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What is exponential growth in a population?

• Population growth that decreases over time

• Population growth limited by resource availability

• Population growth that is unlimited by resource availability

• Population growth that stabilizes at the carrying capacity

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What is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

• A feature of an ecosystem that restricts a population’s size

• A feature that promotes unlimited growth

• A factor that has no impact on population size

• A factor that increases population size

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What does carrying capacity refer to?

• The initial rapid growth of a population

• The number of individuals in a small area

• The decline in population size after reaching a peak

• The maximum population size an environment can support

Which growth model is more realistic for natural populations?

• Logistic growth

• Unlimited growth

• Exponential growth

• Declining growth

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What typically happens to a real population’s size in relation to its carrying capacity?

• It oscillates around the carrying capacity

• It never reaches the carrying capacity

• It remains constant

• It exceeds the carrying capacity indefinitely

What can cause an ecosystem’s carrying capacity to change?

• Stable resource availability

• Decrease in population size

• Seasonal changes or human activity

• Constant environmental conditions

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What is the shape of the curve in a logistic growth model?

• Zigzag

• Linear

• Exponential

• S-shaped

What does the logistic growth model take into account that the exponential growth model does not?

• Unlimited resources

• Constant growth rate

• None of the above

• Carrying capacity

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What happens to the growth rate as a population nears its carrying capacity in the logistic model?

• It increases

• It remains constant

• It slows significantly

• It is not affected

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