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Questions and Answers
What is the primary effect of limiting factors on a population within an ecosystem?
What is the primary effect of limiting factors on a population within an ecosystem?
- To promote exponential growth by ensuring resource availability.
- To stabilize population size by counteracting factors that encourage growth. (correct)
- To enhance biodiversity by eliminating weaker species and promoting stronger ones.
- To cause populations to continuously increase until they reach maximum capacity.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a biotic limiting factor?
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a biotic limiting factor?
- A volcanic eruption decimates a forest, regardless of the tree population density.
- Pollution from a nearby factory contaminates a river, harming aquatic life.
- Increased competition for food among foxes as the rabbit population decreases. (correct)
- A drought reduces the water available in a habitat, affecting all organisms equally.
A severe flood drastically reduces the population of rodents in a grassland ecosystem. This is an example of a:
A severe flood drastically reduces the population of rodents in a grassland ecosystem. This is an example of a:
- Density-independent limiting factor because the flood's impact is not related to the rodent population size. (correct)
- Density-dependent limiting factor because floods are more impactful in densely populated areas.
- Biological limiting factor because floods affect the biological components of the ecosystem.
- Physical limiting factor that becomes density-dependent in the long term.
In a dense forest, a fungal disease spreads rapidly among oak trees, causing significant mortality. This disease is best described as a:
In a dense forest, a fungal disease spreads rapidly among oak trees, causing significant mortality. This disease is best described as a:
Consider a plant species that requires high levels of sunlight for photosynthesis. In a rainforest understory, what is the most likely limiting factor for this plant's population growth?
Consider a plant species that requires high levels of sunlight for photosynthesis. In a rainforest understory, what is the most likely limiting factor for this plant's population growth?
Which scenario best illustrates a density-dependent limiting factor affecting a human population?
Which scenario best illustrates a density-dependent limiting factor affecting a human population?
How does the availability of food and water resources primarily influence the carrying capacity of a population in an ecosystem?
How does the availability of food and water resources primarily influence the carrying capacity of a population in an ecosystem?
How do limiting factors influence population size within an ecosystem over time?
How do limiting factors influence population size within an ecosystem over time?
A population of deer in a forest ecosystem has reached its carrying capacity. What is the most likely long-term outcome for this population?
A population of deer in a forest ecosystem has reached its carrying capacity. What is the most likely long-term outcome for this population?
Consider a scenario where a non-native plant species is introduced into an ecosystem. This plant is highly competitive and rapidly depletes water resources. What is the most likely impact on the native plant populations in the ecosystem?
Consider a scenario where a non-native plant species is introduced into an ecosystem. This plant is highly competitive and rapidly depletes water resources. What is the most likely impact on the native plant populations in the ecosystem?
Flashcards
Limiting factors
Limiting factors
Anything that prevents a population from growing indefinitely.
Physical factors
Physical factors
Non-living factors that limit population growth. Examples: temperature, water, oxygen, light.
Biological factors
Biological factors
Interactions between living organisms that limit population growth. Examples: predation, competition, parasitism.
Density-independent factors
Density-independent factors
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Density-dependent factors
Density-dependent factors
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Carrying Capacity
Carrying Capacity
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Food & Water as Limiting Factors
Food & Water as Limiting Factors
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Study Notes
- Populations in an ecosystem cannot grow continuously forever due to limiting factors.
- Limiting factors prevent a population from growing indefinitely.
Examples of Limiting Factors
- Limiting factors can be biotic (living) or abiotic (nonliving).
- Biotic factors: food resources like plants and animals.
- Abiotic factors: water resources and living space.
- Limiting factors are physical, biological, density-independent, or density-dependent.
- Physical Factors: nonliving factors such as temperature, water, oxygen, light
- Biological Factors: interactions between organisms, including predation, competition, and parasitism.
- Density-Independent Factors: not dependent on population size, such as natural disasters, climate change, pollution
- Density-Dependent Factors: depend on population size, including disease and resource availability.
- Plants require sunlight and water to perform photosynthesis and produce their own food.
- Lack of sunlight and water can lead to the death of plants due to malnutrition.
- Predation limits population growth, as seen in the relationship between cats and birds; an abundance of cats reduces the bird population, and a scarcity of birds leads to the death of cats.
Limiting Factors for Humans
- Density-independent factors, such as hurricanes, can cause widespread death in human populations.
- Density-dependent factors, such as disease, spread more easily in dense populations, leading to higher mortality rates.
Impact on Population Size
- Population numbers fluctuate due to limiting factors.
- Few limiting factors allow population growth due to sufficient resources.
- Many limiting factors cause population decline due to resource scarcity.
Relationship to Carrying Capacity
- Limiting factors determine the carrying capacity of a population.
- Carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can sustain.
- Populations decrease when carrying capacity is reached due to resource depletion
- Population numbers fluctuate around the carrying capacity.
Food and Water as Limiting Factors
- Abundant food and water enable population growth, approaching carrying capacity.
- Scarce food and water cause population decrease, moving the population away from carrying capacity.
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Description
Populations within ecosystems face limitations to their growth due to various factors. These limiting factors, both biotic and abiotic, constrain population size. They include physical conditions, biological interactions, and density-dependent or density-independent elements.
