Chapter 4 and 5 Test Review
Name:
1. What is carrying capacity? Be able to determine carrying capacity given a graph or a
table.
The maximum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support for the
long term is the carrying capacity (K).
2. How can you describe a population of species?
a. Density
b. Spatial distribution
c. Growth rate
3. In 1979 a deer population had 16 members. A new hunting camp was opened four miles
from their habitat later that year. In the spring of 1980, 3 babies were born, but 5 deer
total had died that year. What was the (r) of population growth for 1980?
-2 deer per year
4. Draw a logistical growth graph. What is this also known as? Label the carrying capacity.
-Also known as a S-shaped curve or natural growth
5. Draw an exponential growth graph. Label the Lag phase and the exponential growth
phase. Why is there a lag? How does it differ from the logistic model?
-Also known as a J-shaped curve
-All populations grow exponentially until some limiting factor slows the population’s
growth.
-Lag phase because growth rate is proportional to the size of the population.
Chapter 4 and 5 Test Review
Name:
- Differences: doesn’t include carrying capacity. Unlimited resources must be present.
6. What are some factors that you think ecologists might study when it comes to
populations? Population size, population density, density-dependent factors, dispersion.
7. What is growth rate?
Growth rate (r) = birth rate – death rate.
8. What are some factors that might effect the growth of a population?
Availability of food, water, shelter, resources, etc., presence of predators or competitors,
availability of mates.
9. What is population density?
Population density is the number of individuals per unit area.
10. What is dispersion? What factors affect the spatial distribution of a population
Dispersion is the pattern of spacing of a population.
a. the distribution of food and other resources
b. abiotic conditions like rainfall and sunlight
c. the existence of predators or parasites
11. Draw and describe the three types of dispersion. Give an example for each. Why might a
population exhibit this type of dispersion.
Chapter 4 and 5 Test Review
Name:
Use the chart below.
Year
Wolves
Moose
2001
15
39
2002
13
38
2003
9
35
2004
7
28
2005
14
35
2006
20
38
12. What is the carrying capacity of Moose in this particular population?
about 35
13. What is the carrying capacity of Wolves in this particular population?
about 14-15
14. During which years was the Moose population NOT growing?
2001-2004
15. Using the chart to make a prediction, what do you think would happen to the wolf
population in the next 5 years?
It will likely decrease because it is above carrying capacity.
16. On a ten acre farm there are 17 horses, 7 pigs, 15 chickens, and 34 pecan trees. Which
population has the highest density? 34 pecan trees
17. Define density – independent factor. What is an example?
One of the categories of limiting factors. Any factor in the environment that does not depend on
the number of members in a population per unit area is a density-independent factor (such as
weather, fire, pollution)
18. Define density – dependent factor. What is an example?
One of the categories of limiting factors. Any factor in the environment that depends on the
number of members in a population per unit area is a density-dependent factor (such as disease,
competition, parasites)
19. To assess a population’s growth rate, an ecologist must know what information?
how many individuals are born(natality), how many died(mortality), how many individuals move
in from somewhere else(immigration), and how many move away in a given period of time
(emigration)
20. What is the difference between emigration and immigration?
Moving out vs. moving in
21. What is the difference between natality and mortality?
Births over time vs. deaths over time
22. What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species
in that area.
Chapter 4 and 5 Test Review
Name:
23. What are the three types of diversity? Describe them.
Genetic diversity –
The variety of genes or inheritable characteristics that are present in a population comprises its
genetic diversity. Genetic diversity increases the chances that some species will survive during
changing environmental conditions or during the outbreak of disease.
Species diversity –
The number of different species and the relative abundance of each species in a biological
community is called species diversity.
Ecosystem diversity –
The variety of ecosystems that are present in the biosphere is called ecosystem diversity.
24. What are natural resources? What are the two types? Describe them.
* Resources that are found on Earth in limited amounts or those that are replaced by natural
processes over extremely long periods of time are called nonrenewable resources.
* Resources that are replaced by natural processes faster than they are consumed are called
renewable resources.
25. What is sustainable use?
Using resources at a rate in which they can be replaced or recycled while preserving the longterm environmental health of the biosphere.
26. What is an invasive species?
Species brought in that is not native to that area