Chapter 8
Read pages 161-166 #s 1-18
Read pages 166-170 #s 19-24
Read pages 170-174 #s 25-37
Read pages 174-179 #s 38-42
1. Is the population in Africa growing or shrinking?
2. Explain why the population will grow more slowly than originally projected in the
1990s.
3. Describe the many effects of HIV on African society.
4. Define population ecology and describe what a population ecologist would study.
5. Explain what is meant by “environmental pressure”.
6. Define population density and see if you can find the human population density
for Eastchester and for Albany.
7. On the whole, what 2 factors determine population change?
8. For humans, how are birth and death rates expressed?
9. What is growth rate, how is it expressed and what is another name for it?
10. What is meant by dispersal and what are the 2 types of dispersal?
11. Calculate the population growth for a population of 30,000 people where there are
300 births, 1000 deaths, 600 immigrants and 30 emigrants. You can use a
calculator!
12. Define biotic potential. What do you think your biotic potential is?
13. Sketch a curve that shows exponential growth. What shape does this curve
have?
14. Explain why populations do not grow at their biotic potential. Use a vocabulary
term and site several examples.
15. Define negative feedback loop and give an example that clearly demonstrates
why it is negative feedback.
16. Explain what is meant by carrying capacity.
17. Sketch a curve that shows what happens to populations as they reach carrying
capacity. What is the shape?
18. Do you recall what other principle Gause demonstrated using the 2 species of
paramecium?
19. Explain what is meant by an r-selected (r-strategists) species. How are they
adapted for survival?
20. Explain what is meant by a K-selected (K-strategist) species. Describe their
adaptations as a species. (WAY TO REMEMBER: K selected are A-OK, that’s
us, we’re K-selected).
21. Explain why humans display a Type I survivorship while alligators display a Type
III survivorship. Sketch a curve for each type of survivorship.
22. What is meant by a density-dependent factor? What are some examples of
density dependent factor?
23. Get a picture of a lemming. Explain “boom or bust” cycle.
24. What is meant by a density independent factor? What are some examples of
density independent factors?
25. Why did Malthus suggest that human population growth may not be desirable?
Did you know that Darwin’s first principle is based on Malthus’ work (more
offspring than can survive are produced).
26. What is the explanation given for the increase in global population? Give some
specific reasons for this phenomenon.
27. What is meant by zero population growth? Why don’t immigration and
emigration need to be accounted for?
28. What are demographics? Find out some specific types of demographic data.
29. You need to know population sizes so make a chart that includes the US, UK,
Mexico, Australia, Russia, Japan, South Africa, Canada, India, China, Indonesia,
and Pakistan. Put them in order and make sure you know where they are on a
map.
30. What are some characteristics of highly developed countries (HDCs)?
31. What is infant mortality and how are infant mortality rates expressed?
32. What is GNI, PPP and what does “per capita” mean?
33. What 2 categories do developing countries fall into?
34. What is and LDC and what are some of characteristics?
35. Define doubling time and write the formula in words and symbol (AKA: The
rule of 70).
36. You need to memorize how to calculate doubling time so do the following
problem. In a population of 50,000 there are 600 births, 200 deaths, 300
immigrants and 100 emigrants. What is the doubling time?
37. What is replacement level fertility and why is it higher than 2 children per couple?
38. Identify the 4 demographic transition stages that human population experience,
describe each and sketch a graph that shows death rate, birth rate and total
population size. (NOTE: The vertical axis on the left has birth and death rates
and the right has population size).
39. What does an age structure diagram show?
40. Explain why diagram 8.17b shows slow growth while 8.17c shows decline in
growth (the answer can be found in the reading)
41. Sketch the shape of the following age structure diagrams and label them: rapid
growth, relatively stable, shrinking and one that would represent sub-Saharan
Africa as a result of the AIDS epidemic.
42. What does IRCA stand for and who gets priority for entering the US legally?