Limiting Factors and Population Dynamics

What branch of ecology studies how different species interact within a specific area?

• Population Ecology

• Community Ecology

• Ecosystem Ecology

• Organismal Ecology

What is a group of individuals from the same species that regularly interact called?

• A community

• An ecosystem

• A population

• A biome

Which of the following factors would cause a population's density to decrease?

• Births

• Immigration

• Emigration

• Increased food availability

What two limiting factors were removed in Dallas in 2012, leading to a West Nile virus outbreak?

• Food and mates

• Temperature and space

• Predators and disease

• Water and sunlight

What is the term for the maximum number of individuals a habitat can sustain with its available resources?

• Population growth rate

• Density-independent limitation

• Exponential growth

• Carrying capacity

What is an example of a density-dependent limiting factor for a population?

• A volcanic eruption

• A sudden change in temperature

• Lack of food

• A large thunderstorm

Which of the following is an example of a density-independent limiting factor?

• Spread of disease

• Competition for space

• A severe drought

• Increased predation

What type of population growth occurs when a population's growth rate slows down as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment?

• Exponential growth

• Unlimited growth

• Logistic growth

• Rapid growth