**Chapter 9 Study Guide**
1. **Population:** A population refers to a group of individuals of the same
species living in a specific area, capable of interbreeding and interacting with
each other.
2. **Niche:** A niche is the role or position of an organism within its
environment, encompassing both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living)
factors. Abiotic features can include temperature, sunlight, and soil type,
while biotic factors involve interactions with other living organisms like
predation and competition.
3. **Kangaroo Distribution in Australia:** The populations of kangaroos do
not overlap due to variations in habitat preferences and environmental
conditions such as rainfall and temperature, which limit their distribution.
4. **E. farinosa and E. frutescens:** These populations do not overlap
primarily because they occupy different ecological niches and prefer distinct
environmental conditions, preventing direct competition.
5. **Chthamalus and Balanus Overlap:** These barnacle species can overlap
because they occupy different zones in the intertidal area, with one adapted
to higher, more exposed regions and the other to lower, submerged zones,
reducing direct competition.
6. **Distribution Patterns of Species:** Species distribution patterns can be
random, uniform, or clumped, often influenced by resource availability,
environmental factors, and social interactions. The creosote bush exhibits a
uniform pattern due to competition for water resources in arid environments.
7. **Impact of Size on Population Density:** Generally, larger animals tend to
have lower population densities compared to smaller animals due to larger
space and resource requirements. Population density differs between
terrestrial and aquatic environments, often being higher in aquatic settings
due to three-dimensional space usage.
8. **Pheromones:** Pheromones are chemical signals released by individuals
to communicate with others of the same species, often influencing behaviors
such as mating and social organization.
9. **Population Density and Distribution:** Population density refers to the
number of individuals per unit area, while distribution describes how
individuals are spaced within that area.
**Chapter 10 Study Guide**
1. **Population Size Equation:** Population size is often calculated using the
formula N = (B + I) - (D + E), where N is the population size, B is the number
of births, I is immigration, D is deaths, and E is emigration.
2. **Africanized Honeybee Dispersion:** Research shows these bees
successfully expanded from South to North America rapidly due to their
aggressive behavior and adaptability.
3. **Species Dispersion Rates:** Rapidly dispersing species include the
Africanized honeybees, while slower ones might include species like
tortoises.
4. **Korpimaki and Norrdahl Research:** They studied how predator (Kestrels
and owls) and prey (voles) dynamics affect population sizes, showing
predators influence prey population cycles.
5. **Colonization Cycle in Rivers/Streams:** This cycle describes the
continuous process of organisms moving into, reproducing in, and leaving an
area, maintaining population stability.
6. **Metapopulation Concept:** A metapopulation refers to a group of
spatially separated populations of the same species, which interact through
migration, such as butterflies in fragmented habitats.
7. **Alpine Butterfly Study:** This research showed that butterfly dispersal is
influenced by the size and connectivity of meadows, affecting gene flow and
population stability.
8. **Cohort Life Table:** This table provides information on the survival and
reproduction rates of a cohort (group born at the same time) throughout
their lifetime.
9. **Survivorship Curves:** These curves (Type I, II, III) illustrate different
survival strategies, with Type I depicting higher mortality in older age groups,
Type II showing constant mortality, and Type III indicating high mortality in
early life stages.
10. **Rio Grande Cottonwoods Research:** This study highlighted how water
availability and human activity affect the distribution and regeneration of
cottonwoods.
11. **Maple Tree Dispersion in the U.S.:** The dispersion of maple trees often
results from habitat preferences, seed dispersal ability, and environmental
conditions.
12. **Studying Population Dynamics:** Provides insights into birth, death,
immigration, emigration rates, and how these impact population size and
stability.
**Chapters 11 & 12 Study Guide**
1. **Continental Populations:** Asia is the most populated continent,
followed by Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.
2. **Historical Event Leading to Exponential Growth:** The Industrial
Revolution considerably increased human population growth due to improved
health care, agriculture, and technology.
3. **Human Distribution in Biomes:** Most humans live in temperate,
subtropical, and coastal areas where resources are more abundant.
4. **Population Characteristics:** A stable population has balanced birth and
death rates, declining populations have higher death rates, and rapidly
growing populations experience higher birth rates.
5. **Population Decrease in China (1950s-1960s):** The Great Chinese
Famine significantly reduced the population due to food shortages.
6. **Rwanda’s Population in the 1990s:** The Rwandan Genocide drastically
affected population numbers due to loss of life and displacement.
7. **Economic Impact on Population Growth:** Economic development can
lead to lower birth rates due to improved education and healthcare, while
poverty can exacerbate high birth rates.
8. **Current Population Impact in China:** The declining population may
affect labor markets and economic growth, sparking concerns over an aging
population.
9. **Types of Plants:** Plants can be categorized as annuals, perennials,
biennials, each differing in lifecycle length and reproductive strategies.
10. **Seed Dispersal Methods:** Seeds disperse through wind, water,
animals, and mechanical means, each adapting to environmental conditions
and plant species.
11. **Age of Sexual Maturity and Mortality Rates:** Early sexual maturity
often correlates with higher mortality rates, influencing reproductive
strategies and population dynamics.
12. **Shine and Charnov Research:** Studied trade-offs between body size
and reproductive output in reptiles, influencing life history strategies.
13. **Gunderson’s Work with Fish:** Focused on the life history and
reproductive strategies of fish, assessing how these impact fishing
sustainability.
14. **Bertschy and Fox Research:** Investigated the relationship between
growth rates and reproductive success in fish populations.
15. **r-Selected vs. k-Selected Species:** r-selected species reproduce
quickly with many offspring (e.g., insects), while k-selected species invest in
fewer offspring with higher survival rates (e.g., elephants).
16. **Ruderal Definition:** Refers to plants that rapidly colonize disturbed
environments, often having high growth and reproduction rates.
