All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is a population boom?
Answer: A rapid increase in population size due to favorable conditions. Occurs when resources are abundant and threats are minimal.
Flashcard 2: What is the most likely effect on prey when predator numbers decrease strongly?
Answer: Prey population tends to increase. Fewer predators mean more prey survive to reproduce.
Flashcard 3: What is the most likely effect on predators when prey becomes less available?
Answer: Predator population tends to decrease after a time lag. Predators starve when they can't find enough prey.
Flashcard 4: What is the most likely effect of increased sunlight on plant populations, assuming water is sufficient?
Answer: Plant population tends to increase due to higher photosynthesis. More light energy allows plants to produce more food.
Flashcard 5: What is the most likely population response when a new competitor uses the same food source?
Answer: The original population tends to decrease. Competition divides resources among more organisms.
Flashcard 6: What is the most likely effect of increased habitat space on a territorial animal population?
Answer: Population can increase because more territories are available. More space reduces competition for breeding sites.
Flashcard 7: What is the most likely effect of adding fertilizer to a nutrient-poor pond on algae?
Answer: Algae population increases rapidly. Nutrients fuel algae growth and reproduction.
Flashcard 8: Which option best describes what happens when a population exceeds carrying capacity?
Answer: Resources run short and the population declines. Environment can't sustain numbers above its limit.
Flashcard 9: What is the most likely population response when shelter sites become limited?
Answer: Population growth slows or declines due to increased competition. Limited shelter forces individuals to compete or leave.
Flashcard 10: What is the most likely effect on fish when algae blooms reduce dissolved oxygen in water?
Answer: Fish population decreases due to low oxygen. Decomposing algae consume oxygen fish need to breathe.
Flashcard 11: What is a population crash?
Answer: A rapid decrease in population size due to resource shortage or stress. Often follows a boom when resources are depleted.
Flashcard 12: What is carrying capacity?
Answer: The largest population an environment can support long term. Determined by available resources and environmental conditions.
Flashcard 13: Which population change is most likely when food availability increases for a herbivore?
Answer: Population size tends to increase. More food supports more individuals through better survival and reproduction.
Flashcard 14: What typically happens to death rate when resources become scarce?
Answer: Death rate increases. Starvation, disease, and stress become more common.
Flashcard 15: What typically happens to birth rate when resources become scarce?
Answer: Birth rate decreases. Limited resources reduce energy available for reproduction.
Flashcard 16: Identify the density-independent factor: disease outbreak, competition, or drought.
Answer: Drought. Affects populations regardless of their density.
Flashcard 17: Identify the density-dependent factor: shortage of food, wildfire, or hurricane.
Answer: Shortage of food. Its impact increases as population density rises.
Flashcard 18: What is resource competition?
Answer: Organisms using the same limited resource, reducing access for others. Creates winners and losers in the struggle for survival.
Flashcard 19: Which population change is most likely when water availability decreases during a drought?
Answer: Population size tends to decrease. Water scarcity causes death and reduced reproduction.
Flashcard 20: Identify the most likely effect on predator population if prey population declines due to less food.
Answer: Predator population decreases after prey declines. Less prey means less food for predators to survive.
Flashcard 21: Which outcome is most likely if two species rely on the same limited food source?
Answer: Increased competition leading to reduced growth of one or both. Both species struggle when sharing limited resources.
Flashcard 22: What is the direct relationship between resource scarcity and death rate in many populations?
Answer: Scarcity usually increases death rate. Starvation and weakness increase mortality rates.
Flashcard 23: What is the direct relationship between resource availability and birth rate in many populations?
Answer: More resources usually increase birth rate. Well-fed organisms reproduce more successfully.
Flashcard 24: Identify the immediate effect of increased sunlight on plant populations in most ecosystems.
Answer: Plant population tends to increase. More light energy allows more photosynthesis and growth.
Flashcard 25: What is carrying capacity in terms of resources and population size?
Answer: The maximum population an environment can support long term. Determined by available resources like food, water, and space.
Flashcard 26: Identify the most likely population response when a new resource is introduced (for example, new nesting boxes).
Answer: Population size increases until a different resource becomes limiting. Growth continues until another factor becomes limiting.
Flashcard 27: Which resource change most directly increases a herbivore population: more grass or fewer predators?
Answer: More grass. Food directly supports herbivore survival and reproduction.
Flashcard 28: Identify the most likely population response when food availability decreases sharply.
Answer: Population size decreases. Less food means higher death rates and lower birth rates.
Flashcard 29: What is resource competition?
Answer: Organisms using the same limited resource, reducing access for others. Creates scarcity when multiple organisms need the same resource.
Flashcard 30: Which change most likely increases carrying capacity: more shelter or more predators?
Answer: More shelter. Provides living space; predators reduce carrying capacity.