Population Ecology

Chapter 6

2015

At the beginning of 2012 Yorba Linda had a population of 100 coyotes. 7 new pups were born and 3 coyotes died and 2 coyotes migrated to La

Habra by the end of 2012.Calculate the size of the coyote population in Yorba Linda at the end of 2012.

At the beginning of 2012 Yorba Linda had a population of 100 coyotes. 7 new pups were born and 3 coyotes died and 2 coyotes migrated to La

Habra by the end of 2012.Calculate the size of the coyote population in Yorba Linda at the end of 2012. 100+7-2-3=102 coyotes

At the beginning of 2012 Yorba Linda had a population of 100 coyotes. The

population was 102 coyotes at the end of 2012. Determine the

population growth rate.

At the beginning of 2012 Yorba Linda had a population of 100 coyotes. The

population was 105 coyotes at the end of 2012. Determine the

population growth rate.102 – 100 = 2 coyotes.

2/100 = 2% growth rate

If the growth rate remains constant, how many years will it take for the coyote population to double?

If the 5% growth rate remains constant, how many years will it take for the coyote population to double?

Use the rule of 70:

70/2 = 35 years

A tide pool ecosystem has a species richness of 10. If you removed all the starfish, a keystone species from the ecosystem, what would happen to the

species richness?

A tide pool ecosystem has a species richness of 10. If you removed all the starfish, a keystone species, from the ecosystem, what would happen to the

species richness?

Species richness would go down by more than 1 because starfish are keystone species.

Is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem determined by density independent or density dependent

factors?

Is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem determined by density independent or density dependent

factors?

Name 3 density dependent factors

Name 3 density independent factors

Name 3 density independent factors

Name 5 types of species interaction

Name 5 types of species interaction Predation, competition,

commensalism, mutualism & parasitism

Is cannibalism a density dependent or density independent factor?

Is cannibalism a density dependent or density independent factor? Density

dependent factor

Complete the following table

Species Interaction

Species 1 Species 2

Competition

Predation

Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Complete the following table

Species Interaction

Species 1 Species 2

Competition - -

Predation + -

Mutualism + +

Commensalism + Neutral

Parasitism + -

Define niche and give a specific example of a species niche.

Define niche and give a specific example of a species niche. The biotic and abiotic conditions that

allow an organism to thrive.The niche of a polar bear is a cold environment with icepack and open ocean with plenty of seals to eat. Few large competitors.

The concept that 2 species cannot occupy the same niche is called

_____________.

The concept that 2 species cannot occupy the same niche is called

competitive exclusion.

What happens to the competition level as the niche

overlap increases?

What happens to the competition level as the niche

overlap increases? Competition increases

What is an herbivore?

What is an herbivore? Animal that eats plants

Why is bright coloration a defense against predation?

Why is bright coloration a defense against predation? Usually bright

coloration indicates poison, so animals with this coloration are

avoided by predators.

This halibut is an ambush predator. What feature is it employing to catch its prey?

This halibut is an ambush predator. What feature is it employing to catch its prey?

camouflage

A beaver is a keystone species.

What happens to the species richness of an ecosystem when you remove all of the beavers?

A beaver is a keystone species.

What happens to the species richness of an ecosystem when you remove all of the beavers? Declines by more than 1!

During primary succession what species come first, what is the trend in species diversity, and what is the

trend in primary production?

During primary succession what species come first, what is the trend in species diversity, and what is the

trend in ratio of net primary production to succession?

Small plants (lichen & moss come first – large plants come last.

Diversity increases with succession because more niches in an old forest.

Ratio of Net primary production to biomass decreases with succession

What type of symbiosis is a lichen?

What type of symbiosis is a lichen? A mutualism between a fungus and a

photosynthetic algae.

Which curve represents large animals that are long lived, have

few young and mature later in life?

Which curve represents large animals that are long lived, have

few young and mature later in life? I

These warblers utilize different portions of this fir tree. This is known as ______________

And it _________competition among the warblers.

These warblers forage at different portions of this fir tree. This is known as resource partitioning.

And it decreases competition among the warblers.

What types of situations result in the uniform distribution of organisms?

What types of situations result in the uniform distribution of organisms? Competition for

limited resources, territoriality, or alleopathy (poisons produced by plants)

What type of distribution could protect prey from predators?

What type of distribution could protect prey from predators? Clumped. Remember

schooling fish, flocks of birds and and herds of zebras clump together to avoid getting

eaten.

Identify the logistic growth curve and the exponential growth curve below.

Identify the logistic growth curve and the exponential growth curve below. A is

exponential and be is logistic.

Biodiversity increases when:

The latitude _____________.

Keystone species are ___________.

When habitat size is ___________.

At the __________ of primary succession.

Biodiversity increases when:

The latitude decreases.

Keystone species are present.

When habitat size is increased.

At the end of primary succession.