Exploring Population Ecology Concepts

The video explores population ecology, focusing on how populations are studied, their characteristics, and the factors affecting their growth and distribution. It uses the case study of rabbits in Australia to illustrate the impact of invasive species. Key concepts include geographic range, population density, age structure, growth rates, limiting factors, and carrying capacity. The video also discusses density-dependent and independent factors, and the role of human activities in ecological changes.

What was the primary reason the farmer introduced rabbits to Australia?

• To control pests

• To have animals to hunt

• To increase biodiversity

• To sell them as pets

Why did the rabbit population in Australia explode so rapidly?

• They had abundant food

• They had no natural predators

• They reproduced quickly

• All of the above

What does population ecology study?

• A specific group of the same species in a given area

• The genetic variation within a species

• Interactions between different species

• The impact of climate change on ecosystems

Which of the following is an example of a geographic range?

• A bacteria living in a small spot

• A whale migrating across the ocean

• Both A and B

• None of the above

What does population density refer to?

• The number of species in an ecosystem

• The number of individuals per unit area

• The variety of species in a habitat

• The total number of individuals in a population

How does age structure affect population growth?

• It determines the birth and death rates

• It shows the distribution of individuals among different age groups

• It predicts future population growth

• All of the above

What is carrying capacity?

• The maximum number of individuals an area can support

• The total number of species in an ecosystem

• The minimum number of individuals needed for a population to survive

• The average number of individuals in a population

Which of the following is a density-dependent factor?

• Habitat destruction

• Climate change

• Predation

• Natural disasters

What characterizes exponential growth?

• A population grows rapidly with unlimited resources

• A population grows slowly and then stabilizes

• A population decreases due to limited resources

• A population remains constant over time

Why did the virus introduced to control the rabbit population in Australia eventually fail?

• The virus was not effective

• Rabbits developed immunity

• The virus spread to other species

• The virus was too expensive to maintain