Understanding Carrying Capacity in Ecology

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What factor directly contributes to a reduction in cattle carrying capacity in a region due to overgrazing?

Less grass to eat (correct)

Lack of geographical boundaries

High population dispersal

Increased availability of nutrients

In which type of dispersion pattern do organisms exist in clusters or clumps, living in close proximity to one another?

Migration dispersion

Uniform dispersion

Clumped dispersion (correct)

Random dispersion

What causes uniform dispersion in populations?

Reproductive limitations

Resource availability

Intraspecific competition (correct)

Behavioral characteristics

Why do organisms in a rainforest tend to exhibit random dispersion?

As a result of ample resources and little competition Signup and view all the answers

What type of movement occurs when populations of organisms periodically move, usually motivated by the availability of resources such as food?

Migration Signup and view all the answers

What does carrying capacity refer to?

The maximum number of organisms in an ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What resources affect carrying capacity?

Food, water, and shelter Signup and view all the answers

When does a species reach population equilibrium?

When there is no population growth or decline Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the population growth rate when carrying capacity is reached?

It decreases Signup and view all the answers

How can the carrying capacity be calculated?

$K = r * N * CP$ Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between a species' carrying capacity and its population equilibrium?

They are positively correlated Signup and view all the answers

How does the population growth rate change when an ecosystem reaches carrying capacity?

It decreases Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining feature of exponential growth in a population?

Continued increase in growth rate Signup and view all the answers

How does the carrying capacity of an ecosystem change over time?

It can change depending on available resources Signup and view all the answers

What does a carrying capacity graph show when it reaches the carrying capacity?

Population growth rate decreases Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why a region's cattle carrying capacity is reduced when cattle overgraze in that region?

Decrease in the availability of nutrients Signup and view all the answers

Which dispersion pattern typically arises as a result of intraspecific competition, where members of the same species compete for necessary resources?

Uniform dispersion Signup and view all the answers

Why do organisms in clumped dispersion patterns gather around places where resources are available?

Because resources are concentrated in those areas Signup and view all the answers

What type of dispersion pattern is likely to occur when organisms have ample resources and very little competition within their habitat?

Random dispersion Signup and view all the answers

How does migration impact the carrying capacity of populations when organisms move seasonally?

Increases the carrying capacity Signup and view all the answers