33

POPULATION ECOLOGY
CHAPTER REVIEW
Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms with other organisms and with the physical environment. Ecology encompasses several levels of study: organism, population, community, ecosystem, and finally, the biosphere. The interactions of organisms with the abiotic and biotic environment affect their distribution and abundance. Populations have a certain size that depends, in part, on their net reproductive rate ( r ). There are two patterns of population growth: exponential growth results in a J-shaped growth curve, and logistic growth results in an S-shaped growth curve. Exponential growth can only occur when resources are abundant; otherwise, logistic growth occurs. When population size reaches the carrying capacity of the environment, environmental resistance opposes biotic potential. A survivorship curve describes the mortality (deaths per capita) of a population. There are three idealized survivorship curves: with type I, most individuals survive well past the midpoint of the life span; with type II, survivorship decreases at a constant rate throughout the life span; and with type III, most individuals die young. Age structure diagrams tell what proportion of the population is prereproductive, reproductive, and postreproductive. Density-dependent and density-independent factors regulate population size. Density-independent factors, such as weather and fire, and density-dependent factors, such as predation and competition, are both extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors such as territoriality may also be involved. Life history patterns have been related to the logistic growth curve. The opportunistic pattern occurs in unpredictable environments (density-independent factors regulate population size) and favors small adults that reproduce early and do not invest in parental care. The equilibrium pattern occurs in stable environments (densitydependent factors regulate population size) and favors large adults that reproduce repeatedly during a long life span and invest much energy in parental care. The human population is currently in the exponential part of its growth curve. MDCs (more-developed countries) experienced demographic transition some time ago, and the populations of most are either not growing or are decreasing. LDCs (less-developed countries) are only now undergoing demographic transition but will still experience much growth because of their pyramidshaped age structure diagram. To preserve the environment and the human population, a sustainable world philosophy is a necessity. Control of population size in developing countries while meeting economic needs and protecting the environment are all components of this philosophy.

S T U DY E X E R C I S E S
Study the text section by section as you answer the questions that follow.

33.1 SCOPE

OF

ECOLOGY (P . 688)

Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms with each other and with the physical environment. The scope of ecology encompasses the individual, the population, the community, the ecosystem, and the biosphere.

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1. Match the statements to the following levels of ecological study: 1 community 2 population 3 ecosystem 4 biosphere a. a group of populations interacting in an area b. a community interacting with its physical environment c. all the individuals of the same species in an area d. portion of earths surface where living things exist e. focus of ecological study is growth and regulation of size f. focus of ecological study is interactions such as predation and competition between populations 2. To describe patterns of distribution of individuals within a population, place the words uniform, random, or clumped beneath the following diagrams:

a.

b.

c.

3. Which pattern of distribution is most common? ______________ 4.

a. ______________ b. ______________

factors determine where an individual organism can live. Temperature is an example of a(n) factor, and availability of prey is an example of a(n) c. ______________ factor that can limit

where types of organisms are found.

33.2 CHARACTERISTICS

OF

POPULATIONS (P . 690)

Population size depends on births, deaths, immigration, and emigration. Two patterns of population growth (exponential and logistic) have been developed. Mortality within a population is often illustrated by a survivorship curve. 5. Calculate the per capita rate of increase for a population that has a size of 1,000 individuals and the birth rate is 20 per year and the death rate is 10 per year. 6. What is biotic potential?_____________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________

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7. Place an x beside all those factors that could contribute to an increase in a populations biotic potential. a. a reduction in the usual number of offspring per reproduction b. an increase in the chances of survival until age of reproduction c. a reduction in how often each individual reproduces d, an increase in the age at which reproduction begins Questions 813 pertain to the following two population growth curves:
700 70
Population (thousands)

600 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Generations 8 9 10
Number of Yeast Cells

500 400 300 200 100 2 4 6 8 10 12 Time (hours) 14 16 18

8. Place the label ep for exponential growth pattern or lg for logistic growth pattern beneath the appropriate figure. 9. Which of these two growth curves has a lag phase? ______________ Place this label where appropriate on the curves. 10. Which of these two growth curves has an exponential growth phase? ______________ Place this label where appropriate on the curves. 11. During the lag phase, growth is a. ______________; during the exponential growth phase, growth is
b. ______________.

12. Which of these two growth curves has a deceleration phase? ______________ Place this label where appropriate on the curves. 13. Which of these two growth curves has a stable equilibrium phase? ______________ Place this label where appropriate on the curves. 14. Which of the phases of a growth curve (lag, exponential, deceleration, or stable equilibrium) best represents the biotic potential of a population? 15. Which of these phases (lag, exponential, deceleration, or stable equilibrium) best represents environmental resistance? a. What is environmental resistance? b. At what point will the stable equilibrium phase occur? c.

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Survivorship 16. Study the following diagram of survivorship curves and then answer the questions:

Number of Survivors

II

III

Which curve shows that the members of a cohort die at a constant rate? a. ______________ Which curve shows that the members of a cohort tend to die early in life? b. ______________ Which curve shows that the members of a cohort usually live through their entire allotted life span?
c. ______________

17. What is a cohort? _________________________________________________________________________________

33.3 REGULATION

OF

POPULATION SIZE (P . 692)

Factors that limit population size are classified as density-independent and density-dependent. 18. In general, density-independent factors are a. ______________ ( abiotic or biotic ), such as b. ______________, and density-dependent factors are c. ______________ ( abiotic or biotic ), such as d. ______________. Intrinsic factors such as e. ______________ may also be involved in regulating population size.

33.4 LIFE HISTORY PATTERNS (P . 694)

Life history patterns range from one in which many young receive little care to one in which few young receive much care. For questions 1922, match the phrases to the following types of environments: 1 unpredictable environment and density-independent regulation of population size 2 stable environment and density-dependent regulation of population size 19. large adults, long life span, slow to mature, repeated reproduction, and much care of offspring ______________ 20. opportunistic pattern ______________ 21. equilibrium pattern ______________ 22. small adults, short life span, fast to mature, many offspring during a burst of reproduction, and little or no care of offspring ______________

33.5 HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH (P . 695)

The human population is still growing exponentially, and how long this can continue is not known.

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23. If the human population outstrips its carrying capacity, what will happen to the size of the population? 24. If the human population is curtailed by environmental resistance, what will happen to the size of the population? For the short answers in questions 2528, use the following: 1 MDCs (More developed countries) 2 LDCs (Less developed countries) 25. Which type of country has a pyramid-shaped age structure diagram? a. ______________ With such an age distribution, growth is expected for some time. Why? b. 26. Which type of country overconsumes resources and thus does not follow the sustainable world philosophy? 27. Which type of country has undergone demographic transition? a. ______________ What is demographic transition? b. 28. Which type of country has a high net reproductive rate and thus does not follow the sustainable world philosophy?

CHAPTER TEST
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
Do not refer to the text when taking this test. 1. Which of these is mismatched? a. populationall the members of a species in same area b. communitypopulations interacting with the physical environment c. biospheresurface of the earth where organisms live d. ecosystemenergy flow and chemical cycling occur 2. Distribution of organisms tends to be a. clumped. b. determined by limiting factors. c. the same as the population density. d. Both a and b are correct. 3. If the birthrate is 10 per 1,000 and the death rate is 10 per 1,000, then the net reproductive rate is a. 0. b. 10. c. 20. d. 100. 4. If the per capita rate of increase is positive, then a. population growth will occur. b. the size of the population will increase. c. environmental resistance is likely to come into play. d. All of these are correct. 5. Which is true of a J -shaped growth curve? a. represents the logistic growth pattern b. does not usually occur for long in nature c. is seen in populations that have an equilibrium life history pattern d. Both b and c are correct. 6. Ways to reduce poverty and bring about a sustained population in LDCs may include all of the following but ____. a. strengthening family planning programs b. using better birth control methods c. reduce desire for large families d. increase child mortality rates e. delay onset of childbearing 7. During exponential growth, a. growth remains steady. b. growth is accelerating. c. growth is declining. d. growth depends on the environment. 8. A demographic transition takes place when a. decreased death rate is followed by decreased birthrate. b. decreased birthrate is followed by decreased death rate. c. decreased death rate is followed by increased birthrate. d. increased death rate is followed by decreased death rate. e. Republicans lose control of the House and Senate. 291

9. Which sentence is most appropriate? a. Environmental resistance encourages biotic potential. b. If population size is at carrying capacity, growth is unlikely. c. Environmental resistance consists only of density-independent factors. d. Exponential growth can usually occur indefinitely. 10. Which is true of an S-shaped growth curve? a. represents the exponential growth pattern b. represents the logistic growth pattern c. does not usually occur in nature d. Both b and c are correct. 11. Survivorship in a population is related to a. age of death. b. biotic potential. c. age structure diagram. d. All of these are correct. 12. If the survivorship curve is a straight diagonal line, then a. the rate of death is constant, regardless of age. b. most individuals live out the expected life span. c. most individuals die early. d. environmental resistance has occurred. 13. Select the density-dependent effect. a. climate b. predation c. natural disaster d. weather 14. Density-dependent effects a. increase as density increases. b. tend to be biotic factors. c. tend to be abiotic factors. d. Both a and b are correct.

15. Populations with an equilibrium life history pattern tend to have a(n) ______________ growth curve. a. J-shaped b. S-shaped 16. Select the characteristic that is NOT consistent with the opportunistic life history pattern. a. large body size b. many offspring c. short life span d. fast to mature 17. The countries in Asia and Africa are a. MDCs that are experiencing rapid growth. b. LDCs that are experiencing rapid growth. c. MDCs that are experiencing slow growth. d. LDCs that are experiencing slow growth. 18. The doubling time for the worlds population will most likely a. always remain the same. b. become longer because of demographic transition. c. become shorter and shorter regardless. d. fluctuate because of depressions. 19. The world population increases by the number of people found in a medium-sized city (200,000) every a. year. b. six months. c. month. d. day.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS
Answer in complete sentences. 20. Under what conditions could the growth of a population be infinite?

21. How is the exponential growth of a population similar to the effect of compound interest on money saved in a bank?

Test Results: ______ Number right 21 = ______ 100 = ______ %

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ANSWER
STUDY EXERCISES
1. a. 1 b. 3 c. 2 d. 4 e. 2 f. 1 2. a. uniform b. random c. clumped 3. clumped 4. a. Limiting b. abiotic c. biotic 5. 1% 6. The highest possible per capita rate of increase 7. b 8. a. ep b. lg 9. both; see Figures 33.4 a and 33.4 b, page 690, in text 10. both; see Figure 33.4 a, b page 690, in text 11. a. slow b. accelerating 12. b; see Figure 33.4 b, page 690, in text 13. b; see Figure 33.4 b, page 690, in text 14. exponential 15. a. deceleration b. encompasses all environmental factors that oppose biotic potential c. when biotic potential and environmental resistance are equal 16. a. II b. III c. I 17. an original group of individuals born at the same time 18. a. abiotic b. weather, fire c. biotic d. predation, competition e. territoriality 19. 2 20. 1 21. 2 22. 1 23. A crash will occur. 24. It will become stable. 25. a. 2 b. A large number of women are entering their reproductive years. 26. 1 27. a. 1 b. decreased death rate followed by decreased birthrate 28. 2

KEY

CHAPTER TEST
1. b 2. d 3. a 4. d 5. b 6. d 7. b 8. a 9. b 10. b 11. a 12. a 13. b 14. d 15. b 16. a 17. b 18. b 19. d 20. If environmental resistance were absent, the population size could continue to increase without end. This is unlikely, because the increase in population size without an increase in resources would force environmental resistance to be present. 21. Interest in the bank is paid on both the principal (initial amount of money) and also on the interest generated from and added to that base amount. During exponential growth, new individuals are generated from the original base population, from their descendants, and so on.

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