Exploring Population Ecology Concepts

What factors influence population dynamics?

• Technological advancements

• Birth and death rates

• Climate change effects

• Cultural traditions

Define carrying capacity in an ecological context.

• Carrying capacity is the amount of resources available for a single species in a habitat.

• Carrying capacity is the minimum population size needed for a species to survive.

• Carrying capacity refers to the total biomass of all species in an ecosystem.

• Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

How do predation and competition affect species interactions?

• Predation regulates prey populations, while competition influences resource use and species coexistence.

• Predation only affects herbivores, while competition is irrelevant to species interactions.

• Predation and competition both lead to the extinction of all species involved.

• Predation increases prey populations, while competition has no effect on species.

Explain the mark-recapture method for estimating population size.

• The mark-recapture method involves only observing individuals without capturing them.

• Population size is estimated by counting all individuals in a single observation.

• The method requires genetic testing of individuals to estimate population size.

• The mark-recapture method estimates population size by capturing, marking, and recapturing individuals to apply a mathematical formula.

What is a census in the context of population studies?

• A census is a survey that only includes households with children.

• A census is a comprehensive count and survey of a population

• A census is a random sample of a population taken once a year.

• A census is an estimate of the population based on previous data.

Describe the quadrat method and its applications in ecology.

• The quadrat method involves capturing and tagging animals for population studies.

• The quadrat method is a technique for analyzing water quality in aquatic environments.

• The quadrat method is used to measure soil pH levels in ecosystems.

• The quadrat method is a sampling technique in ecology used to study the distribution of organisms in a defined area

How does immigration affect population dynamics?

• Immigration only affects the population size but not age structure.

• Immigration has no impact on cultural diversity or economic factors.

• Immigration affects population dynamics by increasing population size

• Immigration decreases population size by causing emigration.

How can carrying capacity be affected by environmental changes?

• Carrying capacity is solely determined by species population size.

• Environmental changes have no impact on resource availability.

• Carrying capacity can only increase with environmental changes.

• Environmental changes can increase or decrease the carrying capacity by affecting resource availability

What are the differences between density-dependent and density-independent factors?

• Both factors are the same and have no differences.

• Density-dependent factors vary with population size; density-independent factors do not.

• Density-independent factors are influenced by population size.

• Density-dependent factors are always harmful to populations.

What is the importance of biodiversity in population ecology?

• Biodiversity reduces competition among species.

• Biodiversity leads to increased pollution levels.

• Biodiversity is irrelevant to ecosystem health.

• Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem stability