Population Ecology and Bald Eagle Conservation

What is population ecology?

• The study of how a single species in an area responds to humans.

• The study of all living organisms in an ecosystem.

• The study of interactions between different species in a community.

• The study of how individual organisms adapt to new environments.

What was the status of the Bald Eagle population in the United States by 1963?

• It had increased significantly due to conservation efforts.

• It was thriving with over a thousand mating pairs.

• It had become desperate, with only 417 documented mating pairs.

• It was stable and not a cause for concern.

What is one challenge ecologists face when measuring the density of a population?

• The difficulty of identifying different species in an area.

• The problem of defining where a population begins and ends.

• The high cost of specialized measuring equipment.

• The rapid evolution of species over short periods.

Which of the following describes a uniform dispersion pattern?

• Organisms group together in clusters due to social behaviors.

• Organisms are spread randomly due to environmental factors like wind.

• Organisms are evenly spaced due to competition or territoriality.

• Organisms migrate seasonally, leading to varying patterns.

What was one of the initial reasons for the decline in bald eagle populations?

• Habitat loss due to deforestation.

• Farmers shooting them to protect livestock.

• A decrease in their primary food source, fish.

• Increased competition with other predatory birds.

What information is included in the study of demographics for a population?

• The types of food sources available to the population.

• The age, sex, and offspring potential of individuals.

• The migration patterns and seasonal movements of the population.

• The genetic diversity and evolutionary history of the species.

Which type of population growth occurs when resources are unlimited and there are no natural predators?

• Logistic growth

• Exponential growth

• Stable growth

• Declining growth

How did the pesticide DDT primarily affect bald eagle populations?

• It directly poisoned adult eagles, leading to their death.

• It destroyed their primary food sources, causing starvation.

• It caused eagles to lay eggs with thinner shells, reducing hatching success.

• It led to increased susceptibility to diseases among the eagles.