Population Dynamics
Define carrying capacity.
Maximum population an environment can support
Define species richness.
Number of species in a community
Define predator-prey interaction.
One species consumes another
Define invasive species.
Non-native species causing harm
A population is steadily increasing. What can you say about its growth trend?
Increasing population
Identify whether a J-curve or S-curve represents exponential growth.
J-curve = exponential, S-curve = logistic
Define species evenness.
Relative abundance of species
Identify clumped, uniform, and random dispersion patterns.
Clumped, uniform, random
A highway is built through a rainforest. What HIPPCO factor does this describe?
Habitat fragmentation
Two species in a community: one has 1000 individuals, the other has 50. Which has higher population size?
Species with 1000 individuals
Predict what happens to a population if it exceeds carrying capacity.
Death rate > birth rate until population stabilizes
Compare two communities: one dominated by a single species, one evenly distributed. Which is more stable?
Even distribution more stable
Two bird species feed on the same tree but in different areas (leaves vs bark). What is this interaction called? e partitioning in a scenario.
Resource partitioning
Zebra mussels are introduced to a lake. Propose one strategy to reduce their impact.
Physical removal, barriers, or controlled predator introduction
A prey population rises, followed by a predator population rise. What does this indicate about their interaction?
Predator-prey dynamics; predator growth lags behind prey
A deer population grows quickly after predators are removed. Sketch a growth curve.
Logistic growth curve approaching carrying capacity.
A keystone species is removed from an ecosystem. Predict the effect.
Loss of stability, possible collapse
Two species compete for the same limited resource. What type of interaction is this?
Competition
Predict ecosystem effects of habitat fragmentation.
Decreased genetic diversity, isolated populations, reduced pollination
A population grows quickly then slows as resources are limited. Which type of growth does this describe?
Logistic growth approaching carrying capacity
A prey species increases sharply, then the predator population rises shortly after. Explain why the predator population lags.
Predators rely on prey; population growth depends on prey availability
Community A has four tree species evenly distributed. Community B has four species, but one species dominates 80% of the population. Which community is likely more resilient to environmental changes? Explain your reasoning using concepts of richness and evenness.
Community A because the tree species are all present AND equally distributed for both species evenness and species richness.
In a community, rabbits eat plant A and pollinators visit plant B. Predict what happens if rabbits are removed.
Plant A increases; plant B may be indirectly affected by changes in pollinator behavior or ecosystem balance
A management plan proposes chemical and manual removal of an invasive species. Evaluate trade-offs.
Chemicals may harm natives; manual removal is slower but safer; combined approach balances effectiveness and safety
Several species in a pond decline after an invasive fish is introduced. Predict long-term impacts.
Native species decline, potential reduction in biodiversity, altered ecosystem interactions