Course

Introductory Biology

Study Pack

Set 53 Population Ecology

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Question 1

(Multiple Choice)

Free
Which of the following examples would most accurately measure the density of the population being studied?

A) counting the number of prairie dog burrows per hectare
B) counting the number of times a 1 kilometer transect is intersected by tracks of red squirrels after a snowfall
C) counting the number of coyote droppings per hectare
D) multiplying the number of moss plants counted in 10 quadrats of 1m² each by 100 to determine the density per kilometer².
E) counting the number of zebras from airplane census observations.

Answer

Question 2

(Multiple Choice)

Free
Long-term studies of Belding's ground squirrels show that immigrants move nearly 2 km from where they are born and become 1%-8% of the males and 0.7%-6% of the females in other populations. On an evolutionary scale, why is this significant?

A) These immigrants make up for the deaths of individuals, keeping the other populations' size stable.
B) Young reproductive males tend to stay in their home population and are not driven out by other territorial males.
C) These immigrants provide a source of genetic diversity for the other populations.
D) Those individuals that emigrate to these new populations are looking for less crowded conditions with more resources.
E) Gradually, the populations of ground squirrels will move from a clumped to a uniform population pattern of dispersion.

Answer

Question 3

(Multiple Choice)

Free
During the spring, you are studying the mice that live in a field near your home. The population density is high, but you realize that you rarely observe any reproductive female mice. This most likely indicates

A) that there is selective predation on female mice.
B) that female mice die before reproducing.
C) that this habitat is a good place for mice to reproduce.
D) that you are observing immigrant mice.
E) that the breeding season is over.

Answer