Population Ecology Check

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place at the same time is called a(n) _________.

• Ecosystem
• Population
• Community
• Organism

The largest number of individuals of a population that the environment can support is known as...

• Carrying capacity
• Maximum population
• Primary succession
• Secondary succession

All living things within an ecosystem are interdependent. A change in the size of one population affects all other organisms within the ecosystem. One well known predator/prey relationship is between ladybugs (predator) and aphids (prey). What happens to the population of ladybugs if there is an increase in aphids?

• The ladybug population will decrease.
• The ladybug population will remain the same.
• The ladybug population will increase.
• The ladybug population will remain the same because ladybugs can only eat so may aphids.

Which factor would INCREASE the carrying capacity for white-tailed deer in an Eastern temperate forest ecosystem?

• The re-introduction of the Eastern cougar into North Carolina.
• The construction of new roads and increased traffic through woodland areas.
• A large migration of the closely related mule deer, into the East.
• The re-introduction of the American chestnut tree, which produces many seeds, and used to live in North Carolina.

A scientist studied animals that live in a forest over a period of a year. His observations are shown in the table. At the end of the year the scientist found that the fox population had increased to 40. Which animal will MOST LIKELY be affected by this increase?

• Bears
• Rabbits
• Sparrows
• Robins

Look at the food chain illustrated here. Frogs react very quickly to changes in their habitat. What would happen to the food chain if the frogs began to die off?

• The number of insects and grasses will get larger.
• The insect numbers would get larger; the grass numbers would get smaller.
• The numbers of living things at each level will get smaller.
• The number of snakes will get much larger; the insect number will get smaller.

Elk herds in Yellowstone National Park are herbivores that eat on the available vegetation. Which factor is important to ensure the stability of this ecosystem?

• The introduction of another herbivorous species to increase competition.
• The predators, such as grey wolves, to keep the elk population from growing too large.
• The introduction of more elk from other parks to increase the herd population.
• Ensuring that only vegetation that is part of the elk’s diet is allowed to grow in the park.

The Arctic fox has to compete with other predators for its food sources. The main food sources for the Arctic fox are rabbits and other small rodents. What would happen if competition for food in the Arctic increased and it was difficult for the Arctic fox to find its prey?

• The Arctic fox population will decline.
• The Arctic fox population will remain the same.
• The Arctic fox population will increase.
• The Arctic fox population will increase and then decrease only slightly.

The carrying capacity of a biological species in an environment is the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment. What factors would increase a carrying capacity for a population? I. habitat loss II. increase in food sources III. access to clean water IV. increase in competition V. increase in diseases

• II and III
• I, II, and V
• III and IV
• II, IV, and V

Consider the wetland habitat pictured here. Imagine a very hot summer with little rain. What would be the limiting factor for the populations of all of the animals living here?

• Competition
• Space
• Food
• Water