BIS 2B Study Questions #3, Spring.
© 2023, Laci Gerhart and Jay Stachowicz
Study Questions for Lectures 7 and 8 (Population Growth and Demography).
1. What are the characteristics of species with “r” and “K” selected life histories? What
are the characteristics of environments that are likely to favor each type?
2. Understand and be able to explain, define, and use the following terms:
a. population
b. exponential growth
c. logistic growth
d. density dependence vs. density independence
e. carrying capacity
f. demography
g. life table
h. age specific survivorship
i. age specific fecundity
j. net reproductive rate
3. Explain how a finite availability of resources can produce density dependent
population growth. What other factors can cause density dependence?
4. Identify the four fundamental processes that dictate whether a population is
growing or declining, and define an open versus closed population in terms of these
processes.
5. Which of the following limit logistic population growth?
(a) survival increases with increasing population density
(b) survival decreases with increasing population density
(c) reproductive rate increases with increasing population density
(d) reproductive rate decreases with increasing population density
(e) Both (a) and (c)
(f) Both (b) and (d)
BIS 2B Study Questions #3, Spring. © 2023, Laci Gerhart and Jay Stachowicz
6. Each graph depicts population growth over time for different populations, shown by
dotted, dashed or solid curves. Answer the following questions about the following two
graphs
Population Population
size size
Time Time
a. which of the two graphs describes exponential growth (left or right)?
b. On the left graph, which population has greatest r?
c. On the right graph which population has a higher carrying capacity?
d. On the right graph, which population has a higher r?
7. Given the following patterns of birth (solid line) and death (dashed line) rates in a
population over time, sketch a graph of population size through time (hint; you can start
at any non-zero population size).
Birth or
death
rate
Time
BIS 2B Study Questions #3, Spring. © 2023, Laci Gerhart and Jay Stachowicz
8. Explain the difference between r and Ro. Under which values of each is population
growth positive, negative, and zero?
9. The fictitious data below represent a cohort life table for the wild turkeys that live in
Davis. Use the data to answer the following questions
Age class Proportion Age-specific
surviving fecundity
hatchlings 1.0 0
juvenile 0.5 0
Young 0.25 2.0
adult
Adult 0.125 8.0
Old Adult 0.06 0
A. How is the population of turkeys changing in size over time?
B. What type of survivorship curve would you say this species has?
C. If you were hired as the wildlife biologist for the city and wanted to stabilize the
population size (prevent extinction and prevent the population from increasing) what
specific approach might you take with this population? Consider what specific age
classes are most critical to focus your efforts on and what action you might take (alter
survival vs. fecundity). Note that there may be more than one correct answer to this
question—you would be graded on your reasoning.
10. Sketch a graph of logistic population growth. Label axes and indicate where K
occurs in the graph.
11. Which of the following is the best example of density-independent population
regulation of a population of insects? Are any examples of density-dependent
population regulation?
A. Cold temperatures kill 80 percent of the insects in a particular area.
B. Predators search widely for places where insects are abundant and concentrate
their hunting in those areas.
C. A rapid increase in a population of insects leads to a depletion of the food
supply. As a result, the insects are starving and produce few offspring.
D. When insects are abundant, other predators switch from their preferred prey
to a primary diet of insects.
E. A contagious disease sweeps through a dense population.
F. All of the above are examples of density independent regulation.
BIS 2B Study Questions #3, Spring. © 2023, Laci Gerhart and Jay Stachowicz
12. Assume the populations below are experiencing logistic growth. Round your answers
to the nearest whole organism. The logistic growth equation is
a. For a population of 800 individuals with r = 0.15, living in an
environment that can support 1000 individuals, what will the
population size be after 1 year?
b. For a population of 200 individuals with r = 0.15, living in an
environment that can support 1000 individuals, what will the
population size be after 1 year?
c. Which of the populations from parts A and B above have a larger
increase in population size in a single year? Explain why that
population has a larger increase than the other population
d. Is it possible biologically for a population to ‘overshoot’ the carrying
capacity and have a larger population size than the environment can
actually support? If so, what will happen to this population? (hint test
this out by using N0 > K)