Most density-dependent factors show negative feedback relative to population size. Which one of the following is more likely to show positive feedback relative to population size?

Most density-dependent factors show negative feedback relative to population size. Which one of the following is more likely to show positive feedback relative to population size? 

A. competition in small, sink populations
B. competition in large, source populations
C. fecundity in small, sink populations
D. fecundity in large, source populations
E. mortality in large, source populations


Answer: C

Select the description of a population pyramid for a population that has the largest potential for exponential growth.

Select the description of a population pyramid for a population that has the largest potential for exponential growth. 

A. broad at the base, narrow at the top, with more females than males
B. broad at the base, narrow at the top, with more males than females
C. uniform at all age classes, with more females than males
D. broad at the top, narrow at the base, with more males than females
E. broad at the top, narrow at the base, with more females than males



Answer: A

What is the most reasonable conclusion that can be made from data graphed in the figure.

What is the most reasonable conclusion that can be made from data graphed in the figure.

A. After high mortality early in life, survivorship becomes constant for the rest of life.
B. After high mortality late in life, survivorship becomes constant for the rest of life.
C. After high mortality early in life, survivorship increases at a constant rate for the rest of life.
D. After high mortality late in life, survivorship increases at a constant rate for the rest of life.
E. After high mortality early in life, survivorship decreases at a constant rate for the rest of life.

Answer: C

What is the most reasonable conclusion that can be made from data graphed in the figure.

What is the most reasonable conclusion that can be made from data graphed in the figure.

A. Adults that are likely to die soon have more offspring than those not likely to die.
B. Adults with greater fecundity are less likely to die than adults with smaller fecundity.
C. Adults with greater fecundity are more likely to die than adults with smaller fecundity.
D. If the probability that an adult is likely to die is great, its fecundity rate is great.
E. If the probability that an adult is likely to die is great, its fecundity rate is small


Answer: C

A species whose population growth is not well described by the logistic growth equation is likely to have all of the following traits except

A species whose population growth is not well described by the logistic growth equation is likely to have all of the following traits except 

A. first reproduction is early in life.
B. it has a long life span.
C. it provides little parental care.
D. semelparous reproduction.
E. it produces many, small young.


Answer: B

Some population parameters vary directly (as one increases, the second increases) and some vary inversely (as one increases, the second decreases) with population density. Which one of the following would be expected to vary inversely with population density?

Some population parameters vary directly (as one increases, the second increases) and some vary inversely (as one increases, the second decreases) with population density. Which one of the following would be expected to vary inversely with population density? 

A. mortality (death) rate
B. fecundity (birth) rate
C. intraspecific competition
D. predation
E. parasitism


Answer: B

At what point in a population will zero population growth occur?

At what point in a population will zero population growth occur? 

A. when N equals K
B. when N is less than K
C. when dN/dt equals zero
D. when r equals zero
E. when N equals zero

Answer: A

Parental care of the young is usually associated with species with a Type ___ survivorship curve.

Parental care of the young is usually associated with species with a Type ___ survivorship curve. 

A. I
B. II
C. III
D. I or II (depending on the sex ratio)
E. I or III (depending on whether the reproductive strategy if iteroparous or semelparous)

Answer: A

Which one of the following factors that affects population growth is not a direct part of the logistic growth equation?

Which one of the following factors that affects population growth is not a direct part of the logistic growth equation? 

A. intraspecific competition
B. interspecific competition
C. floods and droughts
D. predation
E. disease




Answer: C

Which one of the following is not a correct distinction about source-sink metapopulations?

Which one of the following is not a correct distinction about source-sink metapopulations? 

A. Source populations usually occupy better habitats.
B. Source populations are less likely to go extinct.
C. Sink populations near source populations are less likely to go extinct.
D. Sink populations without access to immigrants from source populations are less likely to go extinct.
E. The emigration rate from source populations exceeds that from sink populations.

Answer: D

Allen's rule states that mammals from colder climates have shorter ears and appendages than individuals of the same species from warmer areas. The related Bergman's rule states that mammal body size varies with latitude, with larger body size in populations located closer to the poles and smaller body size in populations located closer to the equator. Both Allen's and Bergman's rule has to do with the fact that

Allen's rule states that mammals from colder climates have shorter ears and appendages than individuals of the same species from warmer areas. The related Bergman's rule states that mammal body size varies with latitude, with larger body size in populations located closer to the poles and smaller body size in populations located closer to the equator. Both Allen's and Bergman's rule has to do with the fact that 

A. larger bodies can store proportionally more fat as insulation than smaller bodies.
B. smaller bodies can store proportionally more fat as insulation than larger bodies.
C. larger bodies have a proportionally smaller surface area, and heat radiation varies with surface area.
D. larger bodies have a proportionally smaller surface area, and heat radiation varies with volume.
E. smaller bodies have a proportionally smaller surface area, and heat radiation varies with surface area.

Answer: C

Select the feature that is not an important characteristic of a population.

Select the feature that is not an important characteristic of a population. 

A. a population's geographic distribution
B. dispersion of individuals within the population
C. the life history of the population
D. the demography of the population
E. if and how the population interacts with a metapopulation



Answer: C

You construct a life table for a plant species and find that in all cases about the same proportion of the cohort survive to the beginning of the next time interval. Such a plant would have

You construct a life table for a plant species and find that in all cases about the same proportion of the cohort survive to the beginning of the next time interval. Such a plant would have 

A. a Type I survivorship curve.
B. a Type II survivorship curve.
C. a Type III survivorship curve.
D. a semelparous life history adaptation.
E. populations regulated by density-independent events


Answer: B

Which one of the following is not a physical environmental factor that determines where an organism can live?

Which one of the following is not a physical environmental factor that determines where an organism can live? 

A. temperature
B. water
C. insolation (sunlight)
D. soil type
E. intraspecific competition



Answer: E

Spacing within a population for a species that is strongly territorial would be expected to be

Spacing within a population for a species that is strongly territorial would be expected to be 

A. uniform.
B. clumped.
C. random.
D. uniform or clumped depending if it is a source or sink metapopulation.
E. uniform or clumped depending on the life history strategy of the specie




Answer: A

Population pyramids are primarily used to show

Population pyramids are primarily used to show 

A. death rates.
B. birth rates.
C. competition.
D. sex and age composition of a population.
E. the carrying capacity.




Answer: D

All of the following apply to the demography of human populations today except

All of the following apply to the demography of human populations today except 

A. we use almost half of the Earth's land.
B. we use over half of all renewable fresh water sources.
C. we are unevenly distributed and the difference is increasing.
D. we are using distributed resources unevenly—less than 20% of us use over 80% of the energy.
E. our ecological footprint is decreasing.



Answer: E

The human population growth rate has declined over the past 30 years. This means

The human population growth rate has declined over the past 30 years. This means 

A. improved status of women and increased family planning have had an effect.
B. actual population numbers of humans are declining in nearly all countries.
C. density-dependent factors have taken effect as we neared our carrying capacity.
D. density-independent factors have taken effect as we neared our carrying capacity.
E. all of these.



Answer: A

The Allee effect occurs when

The Allee effect occurs when 

A. a density-dependent factor decreases a population.
B. a density-independent factor decreases a population.
C. a density-dependent factor increases a population.
D. a density-independent factor increases a population.
E. a density-independent factor holds a population at its carrying capacity.



Answer: C

A __________ would probably have a Type III life history.

A __________ would probably have a Type III life history. 

A. whale
B. coconut palm
C. lion
D. gorilla
E. pine tree


Answer: E