Limiting Factors
What is a factor that restricts population growth called?
What is a limiting factor?
What is an invasive species?
What is a non-native species that harms the environment by outcompeting native species?
What is a keystone species?
What is a species that has a large effect on its ecosystem and helps define it?
What is the term for all members of a species living in a specific area?
What is a population?
What does an age structure diagram show?
What is the number of people in different age groups in a population?
What is the scientific study of human populations called?
What is demography?
A hurricane destroys much of a forest, affecting all animal populations regardless of size. Is this a density-dependent or density-independent limiting factor?
What is density-independent limiting factor?
Why do invasive species often have high reproductive rates and few natural predators?
What is because they are new to the environment and have not evolved natural controls?
If sea otters disappear from a kelp forest ecosystem, what might happen to the kelp population?
What is the kelp population would decline because sea otters control sea urchins that eat kelp?
A population of rabbits grows rapidly because there are unlimited resources and no predators. What type of growth is this called?
What is exponential growth?
If a population’s age structure shows many young individuals, what does this suggest about its growth?
What is the population is likely to grow quickly?
In a country, death rates drop due to better healthcare, but birth rates remain high. What happens to the population size during this phase of demographic transition?
What is the population that increases rapidly?
Name two density-dependent limiting factors.
What is by destroying habitats, polluting, or causing stress to organisms?
Name two negative effects invasive species can have on ecosystems
What are reducing native species populations and damaging habitats?
Why are keystone species important for ecosystem stability?
What is because they help maintain balance and biodiversity?
If a population’s growth slows and then stops because resources become limited, what type of growth pattern is this?
What is logistic growth?
Compare two countries: Country A has a wide base in its age structure diagram, Country B has a narrow base. Which country is likely to have faster population growth?
What is Country A?
Name two factors that cause human population growth rates to differ among countries.
What are birth rates and death rates?
How can human disturbance act as a limiting factor on populations?
What is by destroying habitats, polluting, or causing stress to organisms?
What term describes a species that normally lives and thrives in a particular community?
What is a native species?
Give an example of a keystone species mentioned in the slides.
What is the sea otter?
What is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support called?
What is carrying capacity?
What two factors in an age structure diagram help predict population growth?
What are birth rates and death rates?
What is the term for the dramatic change in birth and death rates that slows population growth?
What is demographic transition?
Explain how competition for mates can limit population growth even if food and water are plentiful.
What is because not all individuals can reproduce, limiting population increase?
Explain why invasive species can cause economic damage.
What is because they reduce agricultural productivity, spread diseases, and increase management costs?
Describe how removing a keystone species could cause a trophic cascade.
What is predators decline, prey increase, which affects plants and other species down the food chain?
In a forest, a disease spreads quickly only when the deer population is very dense. Is this an example of a density-dependent or density-independent limiting factor? Explain.
What is a density-dependent limiting factor, because it depends on population size?
Explain why a country with a large elderly population might face economic challenges.
What is because fewer people are working and more need healthcare and support?
A country has an aging population with more elderly than young people. How might this affect its future population growth?
What is the population growth will slow or possibly decline?