Population Flashcards
(156 cards)
1
Q
distributions ___ and abundances ______
A
change, fluctuate
2
Q
_____ refers to the same species, ____ refers to multiple species
A
population, community
3
Q
what limits distribution?
A
disperal, abiotic factors, biotic factors
4
Q
N refers to….
A
population growth
5
Q
what does population depend on? (4 things)
A
births, deaths, immigration, emigration
6
Q
birth and death rates depend on the _______
A
environment
7
Q
what is the rMax in population?
A
maximum growth rate, growth under ideal conditions
8
Q
what does K represent?
A
carrying capacity
9
Q
What is equilibrium density?
A
Population no longer grows or shrinks
10
Q
when does a population reach equilibrium?
A
birth rate=mortality rate
11
Q
what does m stand for?
A
mortality(death)
12
Q
Why does population growth slow down?
A
Resources become limited, food, space
13
Q
Pup mortality _____ with density
A
increases
14
Q
For b>m, r>0, population growth _____
A
increases
15
Q
For b=m r=0, population growth ______
A
stops
16
Q
what is the goal of fitness?
A
maximize offspring
17
Q
what is true for r-strategy groups?
A
Reproduce young (short lifespan)
18
Q
what is true for K strategy groups?
A
Reproduce later (longer lifespan), permanent habitats
19
Q
in K strategy groups, mortality is____ when young, ____ when adults
A
low, high
20
Q
in r-strategy groups, mortality is ____ when young, ____when adults
A
high, low
21
Q
what is the equation for total fertility rate?
A
children/female over her lifetime
22
Q
What are the 4 levels of ecological study?
A
Population, community, ecosystem, landscape
23
Q
Population growth depends on what 4 factors?
A
Births, deaths, immigration, emigration
24
Q
What is the equation for ‘number of individuals added to population per unit time’?
A
△N/△t
25
What is the equation for 'how many births per individual'?
b=B/N (where b=per capita birth rate)
26
What is the equation for 'mortality rate'?
m=D/N
27
Population shrinks if what variable is negative?
r (negative growth)
28
What is the variable for 'carrying capacity'?
k
29
What is the definition of rMax?
Maximum growth rate / growth under ideal conditions
30
What are the 2 causes that slow down population growth?
Resources and space becoming limited
31
What is intra-specific competition?
competition for resources within a population
32
What is the definition of carrying capacity? Give an example pertaining to sea otters.
The number of individuals an environment can support.
| Sea otter density increases -> Less food -> Lower population growth (r) where r=b-d
33
Why doesn't per capita birth rate vary with density?
Birth rate is density-independent
34
Thin mothers have pups that do not survive. What is the reason for the increase of pup mortality with density?
Pup mortality is density-dependent
35
When: N>200, m>b and r
Population decreases
36
When: Nm and r>0, what happens to the population?
Population increases
37
What is the equation for the 'logistic growth model'?
dN/dt = rMax(N)(K-N)/K
38
1. If N=K, the population will ______
2. If N>K, the population will ______
3. If N
1. stay the same
2. shrink
3. grow
39
What is fitness?
The contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation to maximize the number of offspring ONLY IF offspring are likely to survive and reproduce.
40
What are two ways to maximize fitness? Explain each.
1. Trade-offs --> many low quality vs. few high quality
| 2. r-strategy --> maximize number of offspring (smaller offspring and no parental care)
41
What are the differences between r-strategy and k-strategy? Give 3 differences for each.
k-strategy:
1. reproduce later (longer lifespan)
2. permanent habitats
3. Good competitors
r-strategy:
1. reproduce young (short lifespan)
2. disturbed/temporary habitats
3. invader colonists
42
What is demography?
Age structure and the patterns of birth and death
43
What is an example of how birth and death rates varied historically?
Baby boomers
44
Whar are the 3 types of aquatic biomes?
Marine, estuaries and freshwater
45
Give 3 reasons of why depth matters. ;)
light, place to attach, temperature
46
What are 2 reasons that aquatic biomes often stratify?
thermocline (zone of rapid temperature change), warmer water at surface
47
What are the 3 things that make up shallow water biomass?
intertidal, kelp beds, coral reefs
48
For the following species interactions, predict whether there is a positive or negative effect on population growth using the following: (- -, + +, + -, + 0)
1. Competition: __ and __
2. Mutualism: __ and __
3. Parasitism: __ and __
4. Commensalism: __ and __
1. - and -
2. + and +
3. + and -
4. + and 0
49
What are the 2 causes for competition for resource?
Lower birth rate and higher death rate
50
What 4 zones make up the rocky intertidal?
Splash and spray zone
high tide zone
mid tide zone
low tide zone
51
What marine animal is most closely related to the adult barnacle?
lobster
52
What are the 2 main components of ecosystems? What is the importance of these 2 components?
Living and nonliving, to capture and store energy and nutrients
53
Radiant energy is captured for what 2 reasons?
to produce organic molecules
| and to transform organic matter
54
Hoes does radiant energy leave an ecosystem?
As heat
55
What type of flow does energy have in an ecosystem?
a) two-way
b) one-way
c) it does not have a set flow
d) none of the above
b) one-way
56
What type of flow does nutrients have in an ecosystem?
a) one-way
b) free flowing
c) circular flow
d) none of the above
c) circular flow
57
What type of producers capture nutrients?
Primary producers
58
What is captured nutrients used as?
Building blocks for organic matter
59
What is the function of an ecosystem?
Rates of energy/nutrient capture, storage and transfer by primary producers, consumers and decomposers
60
What is another name for primary production?
photosynthesis
61
What 2 happenings occur during primary production?
1. light energy is captured and stored as chemical energy
| 2. inorganic nutrients captured and stored as organic molecules
62
Give 3 examples of autotrophs
1. plants
2. algae and other protists
3. cyanobacteria
63
What is another name for secondary production?
Consumption
64
What occurs during secondary production?
Gains energy and nutrients obtained from other organisms
65
What do heterotrophs consume and decompose?
Consumes: living organisms
Decomposes: dead, organic matter
66
What is decomposition?
The release of energy and nutrients as detritus is consumed
67
Give 3 examples of decomposers (detritivores)
invertebrates, fungi and bacteria
68
Biomass does NOT equal _____
a) consumption
b) abundance
c) decomposition
d) production
d) production
69
What is biomass?
Amount (mass) of organic matter present (kg/m^2)
70
What is production?
Amount of new biomass produced produced per unit time (kg/m^2/yr)
71
GPP must always be greater than ____.
NPP
72
What is GPP?
Total light energy converted to chemical energy
73
what is Ra?
energy lost due to plant metabolic activities
74
What is NPP?
energy stored by plant (plant growth)
75
What does NEP stand for?
Net Ecosystem Production
76
What 2 events occur when there is a positive NEP?
1. ecosystems absorb more CO2 than it releases
| 2. helps lower atmospheric CO2 (climate change)
77
What 2 events occur when there is a negative NEP?
1. ecosystem releases more CO2 than it absorbs
| 2. contributes to increasing atmospheric CO2
78
What limits primary production? Give 4 examples.
1. Terrestrial --> temperature --> latitude and elevation
2. Moisture
3. Soil nutrients --> nitrogen
4. Marine
79
What are the 3 main limiting nutrients?
1. Nitrogen
2. Nitrogen & Phosphorus
3. Iron
80
What is a biochemical cycle?
the movement of nutrients through organisms and physical reservoirs
81
Give the chemical equation for decomposition.
Organic N --> NH4+
82
Give the 2 chemical equations for assimilation
NH4+-->Organic N
| NO3- -->Organic N
83
Give the chemical equation for N-fixation
N2-->NH4+
84
Give the chemical equation for nitrification
NH4+-->NO3-
85
Give the chemical equation for denitrification
NO3- -->N2
86
The rate of N-fixation limits ______ production.
a) terrestrial
b) aquatic
c) atmospheric
d) human
a) terrestrial
87
How does agriculture increase rates of N-fixation? Give 2 examples
1. growing legumes
| 2. manufacturing fertilizer
88
Give 3 explanations for why there are long-term negative consequences on loading soil with N fertilizer
1. acidifies soil
2. loss of nutrients from soil
3. pollution to aquatic ecosystems
89
What is one immediate positive effect from loading soil with N fertilizer?
More plant growth
90
T or F: If nitrification
False: nitrification > assimilation = acidic soil
91
What happens if plants cannot use all N fertilizer? What happens because of this?
If plants cannot use all N fertilizer, nitrates build up in the soil. Excess NO3- washes out when it rains, and ends up leaching into freshwater, and eventually the ocean ((oh no))
92
What is eutrophication?
Excessive growth of algae due to overload of nutrients
93
What is the 'dead zone'?
Low O2 part of a marine environment where fish die
94
What is the Global N Budget?
Explains the rate at which N becomes available
95
When burning fossil fuels, what is omitted into the atmosphere? And what is the effect because of this omission?
N2O, which reacts with water in the air and becomes deposited in all ecosystems
96
Behaviour is a product of ______.
a) kin selection
b) inclusive fitness
c) natural selection
d) social interaction
c) natural selection
97
Give one benefit and one cost regarding behaviour in terms of its effect on fitness
Benefit: if fitness is increasing
Cost: if fitness is decreasing
98
T or F: those with more appropriate behaviour pass on more genes
True
99
In regards to social behaviour, determine whether there is a positive, negative or mix of both effects on actor and recipient (++, --, +-) for the following:
1. Cooperative: recipient ___ actor ___
2. Altruistic: recipient ___ actor ___
3. Spiteful: recipient ___ actor ___
4. Selfish: recipient ___ actor ___
1. recipient +, actor +
2. recipient +, actor -
3. recipient -, actor -
4. recipient -, actor +
100
What is inclusive fitness? What is the name of the man who suggested this?
Total effect on number of genes passed on (W.D. Hamilton)
101
What is the importance of inclusive fitness? Give 2 reasons
1. produce offspring
| 2. aid relatives to produce offspring
102
What is kin selection?
Selection for an act that enhances relatives reproductive success
103
What is Hamilton's rule?
Natural selection favours act if: C
104
What is reciprocal altruism?
Between non-relatives, for social groups instead. "tit for tat"
105
Give 2 benefits and 2 costs for living within a group and being social
```
Benefits:
1. cooperative feeding
2. defense of group
Costs:
1. Disease/parasites
2. restricted reproduction :( need that DicK
```
106
When does group living evolve?
When benefits>costs
107
What is social organization?
Living in groups -- cooperative breeding
108
When does restrictive reproduction occur?
When there is a social hierarchy among a social group, only some breed. For example an alpha male and female
109
What are 2 benefits to helpers?
1. kin selection; where pups usually survive better in packs with helpers
2. individual fitness; where those that wait to leave have higher survival and a higher lifetime reproduction
110
What are 2 examples of what a breeding pair would do?
1. build nests
| 2. incubate eggs
111
What are the 3 benefits for mature young staying on territory?
1. feed younger siblings
2. defend territory
3. ward off predators
112
T or F: Daughters help more than sons
False, sons help more than daughters
113
In regards to living in groups, what is the difference between cooperative breeding and eusocial societies?
Cooperative breeding: live on territories in family groups
| Eusocial societies: extreme kin selection
114
Give an example of a eusocial vertebrate and a eusocial insect that we discussed in class
eusocial insect: army ants
| eusocial vertebrate: naked mole rat *insert kim possible phone ring*
115
It pays to give up independent reproduction if that reproduction.... (Give 3 reasons)
1. is likely to be unsuccessful (harsh environment -- naked mole rat)
2. is restricted (limited habitat -- scrub jay)
3. is likely to be more successful if delayed (red wolf)
116
What is a monogamous mating system?
Single pair bond
117
What is a polygamous/polygynous/polyandrous mating system?
one individual mates with several of the other sex (sloot)
118
What is a promiscuous mating system?
no strong mating bonds (commitment issues af)
119
What is conservation biology?
the use of ecological theory for conservation
120
How do you conserve diversity within a community OR ecosystem?
By protecting unique, threatened habitats
121
How do you conserve diversity in a species?
By identifying and eliminating threats to particular species
122
How do you conserve diversity in genetics?
By maintaining large populations and protecting isolated populations to preserve unique genetic types
123
What is the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?
The first global environment network
124
What is on the 'red list'?
endangered species
125
What is the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)?
A panel of scientific experts who identify and assess species at risk based on population size, recent decline and threats to populations/habitats
126
Name the 5 categories a species goes through when becoming endangered and give a definition for each.
1. Extinct --> gone everywhere
2. Extirpated --> gone in Canada, found elsewhere
3. Endangered --> could soon be extirpated
4. Threatened --> could soon be endangered
5. Special Concern --> vulnerable (current threats)
127
What does the COSEWIC recommend when enlisting a species in 1 of the 5 endangered categories?
Listing to the government to the federal Minister of the Environment within 90 days of initial response, within 9 months for final decision and after final decision, decide to either 1.) send report back to COSEWIC 2.) accept SARA or 3.) reject: no listing
128
What does SARA stand for?
Species
At
Risk
Act
129
What are the goals of SARA? Name 2
1. prevent extinctions/extirpations of wildlife in Canada
| 2. Provide for the recovery of endangered or threatened species
130
Give 4 benefits of biodiversity
1. new foods/improved crops
2. new products for research and industry
3. new medicines
4. ecosystem services
131
Give 3 threats to biodiversity
1. habitat loss/destruction
2. over-harvesting
3. species introductions --> many extinctions
132
What are stochastic (chance) events?
Where population size varies from year to year
133
T or F: Small populations may go extinct if there is a "good" year?
False; small populations go extinct if there is a "bad" year
134
Using the following terms below (in no particular order), construct 2 positive feedback loops IN THE CORRECT ORDER starting with 'small population' and ending with 'small population':
Feedback Loop #1 word bank:
- drift
- increase in deaths
- less genetic variability
- lower fitness
Feedback Loop #2 word bank:
- decrease in births
- lower fitness
- inbreeding
- deleterious alleles
Feedback Loop #1
Small population > Drift > Less genetic variability > Lower fitness > Increased deaths > Small population
Feedback Loop #2
Small population > Inbreeding > Deleterious alleles > Lower fitness > Births decrease > Small population
135
Give 3 factors that increase deaths or decrease births
1. habitat quality
2. over-exploitation
3. introduced species
136
What are the 6 steps (in the correct order) for analysis and intervention of factors that increase deaths and/or decrease births?
1. confirm decline
2. determine environmental needs
3. hypotheses for cause of decline
4. test most likely hypothesis
5. use results to design recovery plan
6. consider other threats
137
What is the goal of conservation biology? How will they go about reaching this goal?
Goal: slow loss of biodiversity
Plan: use data and ecological theory to guide conservation
138
Protecting isolated populations can help conserve genetic diversity if the isolated population...
(a) is well-connected to other populations
(b) has a genetic composition similar to other populations
(c) is genetically quite distinct from other populations
(d) has high species diversity
c) is genetically quire distinct from other populations
139
Which of the following is a global (international) environmental organization?
(a) SARA
(b) IUCN
(c) COSEWIC
(d) YNP
(e) EPA
b) IUCN
140
According to COSEWIC, the difference between an endangered species and a threatened one is
(a) an endangered species is closer to extirpation
(b) a threatened species is closer to extinction
(c) threatened species are endangered outside Canadian borders
(d) endangered species are mainly tropical
(e) endangered species are more likely to respond to recovery plans
a) an endangered species is closer to extirpation
141
A species is considered extirpated by COSEWIC if
(a) it is now globally extinct but was never found in Canada
(b) it has recently been expanding its range outside of Canada
(c) it is no longer found in Canada but is still present elsewhere
(d) the most important threat to the species is habitat loss
(e) it is close to going extinct in Canada
c) it is no longer found in Canada but is still present elsewhere
142
Populations of American shad (a fish) spawn in rivers from Nova Scotia to the southern USA. Different populations have been found to be adapted to different temperature regimes. This is most likely an example of
(a) genetic diversity
(b) species diversity
(c) ecosystem diversity
(d) a threatened species
(e) an endangered species
a) genetic diversity
143
Which of the following would NOT qualify as an ecosystem service?
(a) rain falling to the ground
(b) blowfly larvae infesting a deer carcass
(c) bees pollinating an apple tree
(d) leaves decomposing on a forest floor
a) rain falling to the ground
144
One aspect of the biodiversity crisis is the potential loss of whole ecosystems, e.g., wetlands. The most serious consequence of a loss of certain ecosystem types would be
(a) an increase in global warming and thinning of the ozone layer
(b) loss of ecosystem services on which people and other organisms depend
(c) increased fragmentation of habitat
(d) an increase in nitrogen deposition
b) loss of ecosystem services on which people and other organisms depend
145
Which is currently the greatest threat to biodiversity on a global scale?
(a) Habitat loss
(b) Conversion of native prairie to agriculture
(c) Inbreeding in small populations
(d) Overharvesting
(e) Population vortices
a) habitat loss
146
The great auk is an example of a species driven to extinction by
(a) habitat loss
(b) hunting
(c) the accidental introduction of rats
(d) interspecific competition
(e) destruction of its food supply
b) hunting
147
Assume that the population dynamics of a fish population can be described by the logistic equation,
dN/dt = rN (K - N)/K, r = (b - m)
Overharvesting would increase the risk of extinction primarily through effects on which variable?
(a) b
(b) m
(c) K
(d) N
b) m
148
Which of the following does NOT apply to the concept of an extinction vortex?
(a) Population sizes of species entering the vortex are already small
(b) The key factor driving the extinction vortex is intraspecific competition
(c) Genetic variability within the population decreases
(d) Inbreeding leads to lower fitness.
b) the key factor driving the extinction vortex is intraspecific competition
149
Minimum viable population size
(a) is the number of individuals that can be sustained by the environment
(b) is population size taking into account the number of breeding males and females
(c) is the smallest size that a population can be, and still have a high probability of persistence
(d) is the average size of a population, taking into account year to year variation
c) is the smallest size that a population can be, and still have a high probability of persistence
150
A population of salamanders living in a maple forest needs to have at least 75 adults to have a 95% probability of persisting for 100 years. The population currently has 100 adult individuals. Which of the following conclusions can you draw from this information?
(a) The population is likely to go extinct within 100 years.
(b) The population is likely to decline to 75 adults within the next 100 years
(c) There is less than a 5% chance that the population will go extinct in the next 100 years
(d) The forest is over-populated with salamanders
c) there is less than a 5% chance that the population will go extinct in the next 100 years
151
Ecologists studying two species of turtle in a national park wanted to determine the MVP for each population (99% probability of surviving for 50 years).
Minimum viable population size was 100 for painted turtles and 30 for snapping turtles. The park has 70 painted turtles and 50 snapping turtles.
Which of the following conclusions is correct?
(a) Both populations have a 1% chance of surviving for 50 years
(b) The painted turtle population is less likely than the snapping turtle population to go survive for the next 50 years
(c) The painted turtle population is more likely than the snapping turtle population to go survive for the next 50 years
(d) Neither population will survive 50 years
b) the painted turtle population is less likely to go survive for the next 50 years
152
Which population is more likely to survive for 100 years?
(a) The population in the national park
(b) The population in the mixed wetland/agricultural habitat
(c) Both are equally likely to survive
a) the population in the national park
153
Why might MVP be lower in the park?
(a) Carrying capacity might be higher
(b) Predation rates might be higher
(c) Population size might be less from year to year
(d) Migration rates might be lower
c) population size might be less from year to year
154
The main cause of the decline of the rufa red knot, a shorebird that migrates annually from its breeding grounds in the Arctic to the southern tip of South America, was found to be located
(a) on its breeding grounds
(b) on its migratory route
(c) on its wintering grounds
b) on its migratory route
155
How did scientists come to the conclusion that a decline in quality of the Arctic breeding grounds was not likely the main cause of the rapid decline of the rufa red knot?
(a) They found that insect abundance had not changed
(b) They found that predation rates had not changed
(c) They found that arrival time at the breeding grounds had not changed
(d) They found that the abundance of other bird species that used the same nesting grounds had not changed
d) they found that the abundance of other bird species that used the same nesting grounds had not changed
156
The horseshoe crab fishery influenced the decline of the rufa red knot
(a) by reducing the abundance of a key food supply used during migration
(b) due to disturbance of bottom habitat by trawlers
(c) indirectly, by causing pollution of the coastal waters
(d) through influences on the red knot’s main predators
a) by reducing the abundance of a key food supply used during migration
