Populations Review

The number of individuals in a population in a given area is the:

• carrying capacity

• density

• distribution

• growth rate

Answer explanation

The number of individuals in a population in a given area is referred to as density. It quantifies how many individuals occupy a specific space, distinguishing it from concepts like carrying capacity or growth rate.

When an organism fights with another organism over a limited resource, this is called:

• limiting factor

• predator-prey relationship

• competition

• demography

Answer explanation

When organisms compete for limited resources, it is known as competition. This term specifically describes the struggle between individuals or species for resources like food, water, or territory.

The graph below represents the number of predators and prey in a population. What would happen if the predator was temporarily removed? The number of prey would.

• increase

• decrease

• stay the same

Answer explanation

If the predator is temporarily removed, there will be less predation on the prey population. This reduction in predation pressure allows the number of prey to increase, as they can reproduce and thrive without being hunted.

Tags

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Based on the graph, which population has a greater number?

• predator

• prey

Answer explanation

The graph indicates that the prey population is larger than the predator population, as the data points for prey are higher. Therefore, the correct answer is prey.

A relationship where both organisms benefit is called:

• commensalism

• parasitism

• mutualism

• Idealism

Answer explanation

A relationship where both organisms benefit is called mutualism. In this type of interaction, both species gain advantages, unlike commensalism (one benefits, the other is unaffected) or parasitism (one benefits at the other's expense).

A population is limited by its:

• exponential growth

• logistic growth

• carrying capacity

• resources

Answer explanation

A population is limited by its resources, which include food, water, and habitat. When resources are scarce, population growth slows, highlighting the importance of resource availability in sustaining a population.

Tags

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The movement of individual into an area is called

• demography

• carrying capacity

• immigration

• emigration

Answer explanation

The movement of individuals into an area is specifically referred to as immigration. This term distinguishes it from emigration, which is the movement out of an area. Demography studies populations, while carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size an environment can sustain.

The graph at the right represents

• carrying capacity

• exponential growth

• logistic growth

• limiting factors

Answer explanation

The graph represents logistic growth, characterized by an initial exponential increase followed by a plateau as the population reaches its carrying capacity, influenced by limiting factors.

The maximum number of organisms that can be supported by an environment is called

• logistic growth

• carrying capacity

• exponential growth

• population density

Answer explanation

The maximum number of organisms that an environment can support is known as the carrying capacity. This concept is crucial in ecology, as it determines the sustainability of populations within an ecosystem.

Density-independent limiting factors include

• predation

• hurricanes

• competition

• parasitism

Answer explanation

Density-independent limiting factors, like hurricanes, affect populations regardless of their density. In contrast, predation, competition, and parasitism are density-dependent factors, as they rely on population size.