Free Practice Quiz Question List

2 Population Ecology Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 2 Population Ecology, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

True or false

1 point

Clumped distribution is common when individuals gather around patches of food, water, or shelter.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

Territorial birds tend to maintain relatively even spacing from one another. Which distribution pattern best describes this population?

A
Clumped
B
Uniform
C
Random
D
Exponential

Fill in the blank

1 point

The count of all individuals in a population, without dividing by area or volume, is its .

Written response

1 point

A population's individuals are spaced unpredictably, with little attraction or avoidance among them. What distribution pattern describes this spacing?

True or false

1 point

A wildfire is density-dependent because it affects populations more strongly when their density is higher.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A population has 18 births, 4 immigrants, 7 deaths, and 3 emigrants during a period. Using $\text{change} = \text{births} + \text{immigration} - \text{deaths} - \text{emigration}$ , what is the population change?

A
A decrease of 12 individuals
B
An increase of 6 individuals
C
An increase of 12 individuals
D
An increase of 32 individuals

Fill in the blank

1 point

The growth model in which population growth slows as population size approaches carrying capacity is .

Written response

1 point

What is the ecological term for the population size an environment can sustain over time under particular conditions?

Choose all

1 point

Which factors can have stronger effects as population density rises? Select all that apply.

A
Competition for food
B
A flood
C
Disease
D
Predation
E
A wildfire

Choose one

1 point

A population has plentiful resources and reproduces rapidly. Which growth pattern best fits an idealized model of its increase?

A
Logistic growth, because growth slows near carrying capacity
B
Exponential growth, because plentiful resources and rapid reproduction allow the population to grow rapidly
C
Uniform growth, because individuals are evenly spaced
D
Density-independent growth, because density has no effect on reproduction

Choose all

1 point

Which statements about logistic growth and real populations are supported? Select all that apply.

A
The model describes growth slowing as population size approaches carrying capacity.
B
Real populations may fluctuate or temporarily exceed carrying capacity.
C
Carrying capacity can change with seasons, resources, or habitat conditions.
D
Populations always settle smoothly at a fixed carrying capacity.
E
The model assumes resources remain unlimited.

Choose one

1 point

Researchers count 240 individuals in a habitat covering 12 hectares. What is the population density?

A
$\frac{12\ \text{individuals}}{240\ \text{ha}}$
B
$\frac{240\ \text{individuals}}{12\ \text{ha}} = 2\ \frac{\text{individuals}}{\text{ha}}$
C
$\frac{240\ \text{individuals}}{12\ \text{ha}} = 20\ \frac{\text{individuals}}{\text{ha}}$
D
$\frac{240\ \text{individuals}}{12\ \text{ha}} = 252\ \frac{\text{individuals}}{\text{ha}}$

Open ended

1 point

A drought reduces food availability in a habitat that already has a crowded population. Explain how the drought and population density could interact to affect population size over time.

Written response

1 point

A field team counts the number of individuals in several woodland patches and divides each count by the patch's area so the patches can be compared fairly. What population measure are they calculating?

Choose one

1 point

Seeds from a tree usually fall close to it, so young trees grow in patches around parent trees. Which distribution pattern best describes this population?

A
Uniform
B
Clumped
C
Random

Choose one

1 point

Which event is most clearly a density-independent factor affecting a population?

A
Competition for food
B
Disease spreading more easily in a crowded group
C
A wildfire
D
Territorial competition for nesting sites

Choose one

1 point

In an idealized environment with plentiful resources, a population becomes larger and therefore has more individuals able to reproduce. Which growth pattern does this describe?

A
Growth slows as population size approaches a stable maximum.
B
Growth accelerates as more individuals reproduce, producing a J-shaped curve.
C
Population size decreases at a constant rate regardless of conditions.
D
Population size stays constant because births always equal deaths.

Choose one

1 point

A population follows a simple logistic growth model. What is expected to happen to its growth as its size approaches the environment's carrying capacity?

A
Population growth slows as its size approaches carrying capacity.
B
Population growth accelerates without slowing as resources become scarce.
C
Population size must immediately fall to zero upon reaching carrying capacity.
D
Population growth is unaffected by population size or environmental limits.

True or false

1 point

A population may temporarily exceed its carrying capacity, even though the environment may not sustain that population size over time. True or false?

A
True
B
False

Written response

1 point

Over one season, a population has 28 births, 9 immigrants, 13 deaths, and 6 emigrants. Using $\Delta N = births + immigration - deaths - emigration$ , what is the net change in population size? Enter the signed number of individuals.