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Population Ecology and Succession

Total questions: 27

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following could be a density-independent limiting factor in the desert?

a)

number of prey

b)

food supply

c)

parasitism

d)

rainfall

2.
What type of population growth is shown in the graph?  
a)
logistic growth
b)
logical growth
c)
exponential growth
d)
density-dependent growth
3.

What type of population growth is shown in this graph?

a)

logistic growth

b)

exponential growth

c)

logical growth

d)

density-independent growth

4.

Which point on the graph best represents the carrying capacity?

a)

Letter A

b)

Letter B

c)

Letter C

d)

Letter D

e)

Letter E

5.

Which of the following is density-independent limiting factor?

a)

disease

b)

competition

c)

earthquake

d)

predation

6.

In which month(s) did the Cottontail Rabbits reach their carrying capacity?

a)

January and February

b)

March and May

c)

April and January

d)

April and May

7.
Diseases may spread more rapidly when an area is crowded, so disease is considered to be a
a)
type I survivorship curve
b)
population crasher
c)
density-dependent limiting factor
d)
population enhancer
8.
What pattern of growth will a population with limited resources show?
a)
density-dependent
b)
exponential 
c)
logistic
d)
logical 
9.
Which of the following is a density-independent limiting factor?
a)
natural disaster
b)
predation
c)
disease
d)
parasitism
10.

At which point on the graph does population growth begin to be affected by density-dependent factors?

a)

Letter A

b)

Letter B

c)

Letter C

d)

Letter D

e)

Letter E

11.

Review the graph provided. What statements can be made about the significant decline in wolves around 1979?

a)

The wolf decline was a direct result of moose decline.

b)

The is no way to know why the wolf population dropped.

c)

The drop is most likely due to the declining moose population, but more information would be needed to determine that.

d)

The drop is most likely due to the increasing moose population, but more information would be needed to determine that.

e)

The wolf decline was a direct result of the moose increase.

12.

In one study using capture, mark, recapture to estimate population size, 521 individuals were captured and marked. One month later, the traps were reset and 438 individuals were captured. Of these, 136 were marked. Use the Lincoln index to calculate the size of the population.

N=M×nmN=\frac{M\times n}{m}  

(a)  

13.

A population of emus was studied for five years. During that time there were 300 births and 120 deaths. 40 emus immigrated into the population and 20 emigrated out of it. Calculate the population growth over this period.

(a)  

14.

What is an increase of biodiversity over time, after a natural or man made disturbance?

a)

ecological recession

b)

climax recession

c)

ecological succession

d)

climax succession

15.

What is the main difference between primary and secondary ecological succession?

a)

Primary begins WITHOUT soil; Secondary begins WITH soil

b)

Primary is the first stage and secondary is the second stage

c)

Primary builds plant community; secondary builds animal community.

d)

Primary begins WITH soil; Secondary begins WITHOUT soil

16.

___ are the first organisms to colonize an area and begin the process of ecological succession.

a)

foundational organisms

b)

introductory organisms

c)

primary organisms

d)

pioneer species

17.

What is the term that describes a steady and stable community?

a)

peak community

b)

turf community

c)

climax community

d)

disturbed community

18.

Which of the following is NOT a pioneer species?

a)

Shrubs

b)

Lichen

c)

Mosses

d)

Fungi

19.
What type of succession is shown going from figure A to figure B?
a)
primary succession
b)
ecological succession
c)
secondary succession
d)
intermediate
20.
The picture shows what type of succession?
a)
primary
b)
secondary
c)
tertiary
d)
quadanary
21.
What is the order of succession shown in this figure?
a)
A, B, C, D
b)
B, A, D, C
c)
C, D, A, B
d)
D, A, B, C
22.
What are examples of pioneer species in a primary succession?
a)
Bushes and Shrubs
b)
Oak trees
c)
Mossess and Lichens 
d)
A rose Bush
23.
What is the most important function of pioneer species?
a)
To create rocks
b)
To create soil and add nutrients to the environment 
c)
To look nice
d)
Food for animals 
24.

Which of the following best describes primary succession?

a)

Volcano wipes out ecosystem that gradually grows back from ash covered soil

b)

Volcano creates a new island of rock that must break down to form an ecosystem

c)

Forest fire burns down forest that must bounce back over time

d)

Tornado destroys a crop that must slowly grow back over time.

25.

Why does biodiversity increase during the course of succession?

a)

Biodiversity refers to the difference in ages of organisms, so some organisms arrive earlier than others.

b)

Over time, the same trees begin to reproduce and take over an area.

c)

Many populations of organisms gradually begin to occupy the same area to create a climax community.

d)

Many organisms move in to the area for a short amount of time, then leave to find a better habitat.

26.

Humans often build asphalt or concrete roads to travel through areas, such as forests. After many years, plants can be seen growing on the roads. What kind of succession is this?

a)

Primary Succession

b)

Secondary Succession

c)

Tertiary Succession

d)

Quaternary Succession

27.

This is the ecosystem 137 years after a devastating forest fire, what type of community is this known as?

a)

primary community

b)

secondary community

c)

hostile community

d)

climax community