Populations Review

Scientists have been studying the size of three populations in a swampland. In this ecosystem, herons (a type of bird) eat frogs, and frogs eat dragonflies. The data showed that all three populations were stable. Then the dragonfly population increased suddenly. What will likely happen to the frog population as a result? The size of the frog population will . . .

• increase

• decrease

• stay the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

In North America, both bears and eagles eat trout. The sizes of the populations have been stable for the last 9 years, but recently the size of the eagle population decreased. What will likely happen to the bear population?

The size of the bear population will . . .

• increase

• decrease

• stay the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A population of mice lives in the northeastern United States. Over the last 50 years, the size of the mouse population decreased. What best explains the decrease in the size of the mouse population?

• Fewer mice were born than died.

• More mice were born than died.

• A lot of mice died and no new mice were born.

• The mouse population is always decreasing because mice are always being eaten.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

In the Arctic region, polar bears eat seals, and seals eat cod (a type of fish). In the last 7 years, the sizes of all the populations stayed stable, but recently the size of the polar bear population decreased. What will likely happen to the cod population? The size of the cod population will . . .

• increase because when one population increases, the others do too.

• decrease because less seals are being eating, making them increase, and eating more cod.

• stay the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A large population of ducks lives in an area with a lake. In the last 40 years, the size of the duck population has stayed the same. What must be true about the duck population during the last 40 years?

• The number of ducks that were born was the same as the number of ducks that died.

• Humans started protecting the duck population so they stopped dying.

• No ducks were born and no ducks died.

• The ducks did not have any baby ducks during these years.

Name this level of organization:

• Organism

• Population

• Community

• Ecosystom

• Biosphere

What might happen if the earth exceeds its carrying capacity?

• There might not be room for people to move around.

• There might not be enough food and water for everyone.

• The continents might sink into the oceans.

• Most of the people on the planet would starve

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is the difference between a population and a community?

• A community is made up of just one species, and a population is made up of many species

• A population is made up of just one species, and a community is made up of many species

True or False: The carrying capacity if around 300

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Match the following terms with their definitions

• The number of organisms that 'fit' in an area

• Limiting factor

• An increases in population that happens faster and faster

• Exponential growth

• Anything that keeps a population from growing too large

• Overshoot

• When a population grows too large for its environment

• Carrying capacity

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4