Practice: AP Biology population ecology

Define carrying capacity.

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

What factors affect population growth?

Birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration influence growth.

True or false: Exponential growth occurs in stable environments.

False, because exponential growth occurs under ideal conditions.

Difference between K-selected and r-selected species.

K-selected species invest in fewer offspring with high parental care; r-selected species produce many offspring with little care.

Fill in the blank: The ____ model describes population growth with limiting factors.

logistic

What is the significance of a niche?

A niche describes how an organism fits into an ecosystem, including its role and interactions.

Define density-dependent factors.

Factors whose effects on population increase with density (e.g., disease, competition).

How do predators regulate prey populations?

Predators keep prey numbers in check, preventing overgrazing and maintaining ecosystem balance.

True or false: Boom-and-bust cycles are common in predator-prey relationships.

True, because populations can oscillate based on availability of resources.

What are keystone species?

Species that have a disproportionately large effect on their ecosystem relative to their abundance.

Define metapopulation.

A group of spatially separated populations linked by dispersal and migration.

Difference between immigration and emigration.

Immigration is the arrival of individuals into a population; emigration is the departure from it.

Fill in the blank: The ____ curve represents a species that experiences high mortality in early life.

Type III

What is the primary cause of habitat fragmentation?

Human activities such as urban development and agriculture that divide habitats into smaller patches.

True or false: Invasive species usually enhance biodiversity.

False, because invasive species often outcompete native species, reducing biodiversity.

Define ecological succession.

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

What is a population's age structure?

The distribution of individuals of different ages within a population.

Difference between fundamental and realized niche.

Fundamental niche is the potential role; realized niche is the role actually played in the environment.

Fill in the blank: ____ survivorship curves show relatively constant mortality throughout life.

Type II

What is the role of carrying capacity in population dynamics?

It limits population growth, stabilizing the population size over time.

Define biotic potential.

The maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under ideal environmental conditions.