Population Growth & Limiting Factors

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

• Resources become abundant, leading to population growth.

• Resources become scarce, leading to increased competition, starvation, and a decline in population size.

• The population stabilizes and remains constant.

• The population migrates to a new area with more resources.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What does the S curve represent in population growth?

• Exponential growth, where the population increases indefinitely without limits.

• Logistic growth, where the population grows rapidly at first, then slows as it approaches the carrying capacity.

• Linear growth, where the population increases by a constant amount over time.

• Cyclical growth, where the population fluctuates in a regular pattern over time.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

How does competition affect population size?

• Competition typically increases the population size as resources become more abundant.

• Competition typically has no effect on population size.

• Competition typically decreases the population size as individuals compete for limited resources.

• Competition leads to a stable population size regardless of resource availability.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is the difference between exponential growth and logistic growth?

• Exponential growth occurs when resources are limited, while logistic growth occurs when resources are unlimited.

• Exponential growth leads to a slowing growth rate as the population approaches carrying capacity, while logistic growth leads to a constant rate of growth.

• Exponential growth occurs when resources are unlimited, leading to a constant rate of growth, while logistic growth occurs when resources are limited, leading to a slowing growth rate as the population approaches carrying capacity.

• Exponential growth is always faster than logistic growth, regardless of resource availability.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-1

What is the relationship between population density and competition?

• As population density increases, competition for resources intensifies, often leading to a decrease in population growth.

• Higher population density leads to an increase in population growth due to more available resources.

• Population density has no effect on competition for resources.

• Competition decreases as population density increases, allowing for more growth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is emigration?

• The movement of individuals into a population, which can increase the population size.

• The movement of individuals out of a population, which can decrease the population size.

• The process of individuals remaining in a population without any movement.

• The migration of individuals within the same population.

What is the significance of the logistic growth model in ecology?

• It helps ecologists understand how populations grow in real-world conditions where resources are limited.

• It predicts the exact number of individuals in a population at any given time.

• It shows that populations grow exponentially without any limitations.

• It is used to calculate the carrying capacity of a habitat.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is a density-dependent factor?

• A factor that affects population growth regardless of density.

• An influence on population growth that changes with population density, such as competition, predation, and disease.

• A factor that only affects small populations.

• An environmental condition that remains constant regardless of population size.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What type of graph represents exponential growth?

• A straight line graph

• A J curve

• A bell curve

• A U-shaped curve

What is the role of predators in population dynamics?

• Predators can increase the population size of prey species.

• Predators can limit the population size of prey species, helping to maintain balance in ecosystems.

• Predators have no significant impact on population dynamics.

• Predators only affect herbivore populations, not other species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4