Ecological Population Dynamics Concepts

The video tutorial covers population ecology, focusing on the definition of population, carrying capacity, and factors limiting population growth. It explains growth patterns like exponential and logistic growth, and introduces the concept of ecological homeostasis. The tutorial also discusses methods to measure population growth, such as the Lincoln's index, and their limitations.

What is the definition of a population in ecology?

• A group of different species living in the same area

• The number of species in a habitat

• The number of organisms of the same species in a given area at the same time

• The total number of organisms in an ecosystem

What does carrying capacity refer to in an ecosystem?

• The number of predators in an ecosystem

• The total biomass of an ecosystem

• The size of the population that can be supported indefinitely by available resources

• The maximum number of species an ecosystem can support

Which of the following is a density-dependent factor?

• Climate change

• Natural disasters

• Predation

• Sunlight availability

What shape does an exponential growth curve take?

• S-shaped

• J-shaped

• U-shaped

• V-shaped

Which type of species is more likely to experience a boom and bust cycle?

• Neither K nor R-selected species

• Both K and R-selected species

• R-selected species

• K-selected species

What factors contribute to the population growth rate?

• Births and immigration minus deaths and emigration

• Only births and deaths

• Immigration and emigration only

• Predation and competition

Which method is used to estimate populations of motile organisms?

• Mark and recapture

• Transect sampling

• Direct observation

• Quadrat sampling

What is a potential limitation of the Lincoln index?

• It provides exact population numbers

• It is only applicable to plant populations

• Weather conditions can affect capture rates

• It does not require marking organisms

How can trap behavior affect population estimates?

• It increases the accuracy of estimates

• It only affects estimates in aquatic environments

• Organisms may become trap happy or trap shy

• It has no effect on estimates

Why might the marking method fail in population estimation?

• It requires advanced technology

• It is only effective for large animals

• It makes organisms more susceptible to predation

• It is too expensive