Predator/prey relationships
Logistic or Exponential?
Carrying Capacity
Population Growth
Human Impact
100

Describe the definitions of predator and prey

predator- hunter 

prey- hunted 

100

What is the letter of the alphabet associated with BOTH types of growth? (1 letter for each logistic and exponential) 

J - Exponential 

S - Logistic

100

What type of growth will experience a carrying capacity? 

logistic 
100

Describe the differences between population density and population distribution

density- how many 

distribution- how they are placed 

100

What are ecosystem services? 

benefits provided to us from the earth (nutrient cycling, water purifying) 

200

When the population of prey increases, what usually happens to the population of predators shortly after?

they increase as well 

200

Which type of growth requires unlimited resources and is not typically sustained for long periods of time? 

Exponential

200

What is the carrying capacity? 

around 7,600

200

What is an organism called if the organism is found outside of its geographic range? 

invasive species 

200

Deforestation can disrupt the carbon cycle. Explain how cutting down large areas of forest contributes to climate change

It reduces the number of trees that absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis, increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

300

Draw a graph that will represent a predator/prey relationship 

Graph where both lines "follow" each other with fluctuations 

300

Draw a graph that will represent logistic growth

S shaped
300

At what point did the population reach carrying capacity? 

When the graph began to fluctuate around a given point (squiggly line)

300

What are biotic and abiotic factors that control the growth of populations? 

limiting factors 

300

Describe how the loss of biodiversity can make ecosystems less resilient to environmental changes or natural disasters. 

fewer species means fewer available roles and genetic diversity, so ecosystems can’t adapt or recover as easily from disturbances

400

Why can removing a top predator, like a wolf or shark, negatively affect an ecosystem’s balance?

because prey populations may grow uncontrollably, reducing vegetation or prey species and disrupting the entire food web

400

What type of growth: 

In 2020, a pair of rabbits are introduced to Green Island, which has abundant grass, mild weather, and no natural predators. Each pair of rabbits produces a new litter every month, and each litter has enough offspring to form another reproducing pair after one month. 

Exponential

400

Around what day did this population reach carrying capacity? 

about day 21

400

What is the difference between density-dependent limiting factors and density-independent limiting factors? 

Density-dependent: affect populations of a certain size (resource availability, competition) 

Density-independent: affect all populations in similar ways (weather, natural disasters) 

400

Explain how bioaccumulation and biomagnification can cause toxins like mercury or DDT to harm top predators.

Toxins build up in organisms over time (bioaccumulation) and increase in concentration up the food chain (biomagnification), making top predators most affected

500

Explain why predator and prey populations often cycle over time instead of remaining constant. 

because changes in one population affect the availability of food or survival in the other, causing a repeating rise and fall pattern

500

What type of growth do human experience? Why?

Exponential due to advances in civilization

500

What happened between 2011 and 2013 in the graph? 

overshoot and crash 

500

What are the 4 factors that contribute to population growth? Describe each 

birth- number born 

death- number dead 

immigration- number moved in 

emigration- number exited 


500

Climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution are all major threats to ecosystems. Propose one realistic human solution that addresses all three issues at once, and explain the scientific reasoning for how it helps reduce each impact

answers may vary 

 restoring and protecting wetlands 

Wetlands and forests absorb CO₂, helping to mitigate climate change. They provide habitats for many species, reducing habitat loss. They filter pollutants and improve water quality, decreasing pollution