Population Dynamics
This term describes the largest population size an environment can sustainably support.
What is carrying capacity?
This organism begins most food chains by capturing energy from sunlight.
What is a producer
Which process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turns it into oxygen?
What is Photosynthesis
What is biodiversity?
The variety of organisms within an ecosystem or area
Name one human activity that can negatively affect an ecosystem.
Answers may vary. Some examples are chemical pollution, resource overuse, invasive species introduction, or greenhouse gas production
A population of deer increases rapidly when food and space are abundant. As resources become limited, population growth slows. What factor is limiting the population?
What is a limiting factor
Put these organisms in the correct order of energy flow: Hawk → Grass → Snake → Mouse
What is
Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk
Which process changes oxygen to carbon dioxide and releases it back into the atmosphere
What is cellular respiration
What type of species has an unusually large effect on ecosystem structure and stability compared with its population size?
What is a keystone species
Excess fertilizer washes into a lake and causes excessive algae growth. What environmental problem may result?
What is eutrophication / oxygen depletion
A pond can support approximately 500 fish. A new predator enters the pond, and the fish population decreases to 200. Which factor most directly caused the decrease?
What is predation
The percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next.
What is 10%
What process must nitrogen go through for it to be usable
What is nitrogen fixation
A devastating fire wipes out a forest in Southern California. What will eventually happen?
What is secondary succession
A community wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Which solution would most directly address the problem?
A. Increase fossil fuels
B. Increase renewable energy
C. Remove trees
D. Increase single-use plastics
What is B — Increase renewable energy use.
A population grows from 200 to 900 individuals in three years. The habitat can only provide enough resources for approximately 1,000 individuals. Predict what will most likely happen as the population approaches 1,000.
Population growth will slow as the population approaches carrying capacity
An ecosystem contains 10,000 units of energy in its producers. Approximately how much energy would be available to the tertiary consumers?
What is 10 units
A tree dies, and decomposers break it down. How does decomposition contribute to nutrient cycling?
Decomposers return nutrients and elements to the soil and environment so they can be reused.
An invasive plant rapidly replaces several native plant species. Predict two possible effects.
What is native herbivore populations may decline, and biodiversity may decrease.
A non-native predator is introduced into an ecosystem where native prey have no natural defenses. Predict one likely consequence.
What is native prey may decline, disrupting food webs and reducing biodiversity.
A rabbit population increases rapidly from 100 to 800 individuals. The habitat's carrying capacity is 600. Which prediction is best supported?
A. Remain permanently at 800.
B. Decrease and fluctuate around 600.
C. Carrying capacity automatically rises to 800.
D. Increase indefinitely.
B — The population will likely decrease and fluctuate around 600.
A food web contains grass, grasshoppers, frogs, snakes, and hawks. If the frog population suddenly decreases dramatically, what is the most reasonable prediction?
Grasshopper populations may increase, while snake populations may decrease.
Is nitrogen in the air usable or unusable
What is unusable
Two ecosystems experience the same drought. Ecosystem A has 40 species; B has 5. Which has greater resilience and why?
What is ecosystem A, because greater biodiversity can increase resilience and maintain ecosystem functions.
A city wants to reduce stormwater runoff. Which solution is best?
A. Replace vegetation with concrete
B. Increase fertilizer
C. Create rain gardens and preserve vegetation
D. Remove wetlands
What is C — Create rain gardens and preserve vegetation.