Determining Population Size

Question 1

How does a logistic growth curve differ from an exponential growth curve?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

A logistic growth curve is S-shaped. Populations that have a logistic growth curve will experience exponential growth until their carrying capacity is reached, at which point their growth begins to level. An exponential growth curve is J-shaped. Exponential growth is more common in R-selected species, which have a short life span and a high rate of reproduction.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about logistic growth curves is true?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Logistic growth curves increase exponentially at first, then experience slowed growth rates.

Question 3

Direct observation is the simplest and most effective method to determine population size.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

F

Question 4

Yellowstone National Park has 124 wolves living in it. The park covers 3472 square miles. What is the population density of wolves living in Yellowstone?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

0.0357 wolves/mi

Question 5

Population density is calculated by _______.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

dividing the number of organisms in a region by the land area

Question 6

Explain how the method of mark and recapture works to determine population size.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

A number of members of a population are capture, tagged, and released. At a later time, the sampler returns and captures a set number of members of the population and determines the ratio of tagged to untagged individuals. The ratio of tagged to caught individuals is then approximately equal to the ratio of originally tagged individuals to the total population.

Question 7

Describe the sampling method for determining population size.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The sampling method involves counting the total number of organisms in a certain area and then using that number to determine the total number of organisms in a larger area.

Question 8

New Zealand has a population of 4,326,380 and has an area of 103,736 mi while Australia has an area of 2,967,909 mi and a population of 21,905,140. Explain how New Zealand can have a larger population density than Australia even though it has a smaller total population.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Even though New Zealand has a smaller population than Australia, it has a greater population density because it covers a much smaller area. Australia’s population is approximately five times larger than New Zealand’s while the area Australia covers is approximately 30 times larger than the area New Zealand covers.

Question 9

New Zealand has a population of 4,326,380 and has an area of 103,736 mi while Australia has an area of 2,967,909 mi and a population of 21,905,140. Calculate the population density for New Zealand and Australia. Round the population densities to the nearest whole number.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

New Zealand’s population density = 4,326,380 people /103,736 mi^2 = 42 people/mi^2. Australia’s population density = 21,905,140 people / 2,967,909 mi^2 = 7 people/mi^2.

Question 10

A S-shaped curve is called a(n) _______.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

logistic growth curve

Determining Population Size Answers

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