APES Population Dynamics Unit Study Guide
After completing the Population Dynamics Unit, you should be able to…
1. Describe the history of global human population growth and estimate how many people are likely to inhabit
Earth by 2050.
2. Describe the factors that determine exponential and logistic population growth & identify J/S curves.
3. Calculate population density and differentiate between density dependent & density independent factors.
4. Distinguish between r-selected species & k-selected species and the characteristics that define them.
5. Describe how birth, death, fertility, and migration rates affect population growth.
6. Calculate birth rates, death rates, growth rates, & doubling time.
7. Interpret population pyramids/age structure diagrams & determine trends within a countries pyramid.
8. Evaluate a countries demographic data and determine their stage of demographic transition.
9. Explain ways that population growth can be controlled or slowed, as well as governments’ involvement in these
processes.
10. Describe the affects of human population growth on ecosystems.
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Chapter Readings & Review Questions
Chapter 5, Section 2
Chapter 6
Review Questions pg 123, #5-7
Eco Footprint Analysis pg 124, #1-2
AP Review pg 124 A & B, #6, 7, 10, 12
Review Questions pg 144, #1-10
Eco Footprint Analysis pg 145-146, #1-3
AP Review pg 146 A & B, #1-12
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1. Understand the variables involved in the environmental impact of a population (I=PAT)
 What is the correlation between poverty & population growth?
 How does the use of technology affect the impact of a population on the environment?
 Developed countries such as the US have ________% of the world’s population but uses _____% of its
resources.
2. Describe Tragedy of the Commons and be able to recognize examples.
3. What are some factors that are important in considering how many people can live on Earth?
4. Briefly describe the history of human population growth and the reasons behind the relatively recent human
population explosion.
5. What is exponential growth? What is logistic growth? What is carrying capacity? Be able to recognize the
various growth curves on a graph.
6. What are the general characteristics of r-strategist & k-strategist species?
7. Define: population, growth rate, crude rate, birth rate, death/mortality rate
8. What is doubling time?
9. What is the difference between maximum lifetime & life expectancy?
10. What is the World’s current human population? Current doubling time?
11. What countries are growing most rapidly? What countries have low or negative population growth rates?
12. What is meant by demographic transition? Describe the 4 phases of demographic transition.
13. What factors LIMIT human population growth?
14. What are the potential effects of medical advances on human population?
15. What is the age structure of a population? Be able to determine trends from a countries population pyramid/age
structure diagram.
16. What is total fertility rate (TFR) and how does it differ from replacement fertility rate?
17. What is zero population growth (ZPG)?
18. What strategies have China & India implemented to control their population growth?
19. Be able to calculate (know the formulas for):
 Population density
 Growth rates (%)
 Doubling time