Study questions
The following
questions are intended as a guide to help you focus your studying. You
must, however, do more than memorize the answers to each of these questions.
You need to understand the material and be able to discuss the concepts
in your own words. Use active study techniques as much as possible (i.e.,
you must do more than just read over your answers many times). I also recommend
that you take advantage of the learning resources at the end of each chapter
in the textbook, including the associated exercises on the textbook website
(www.essentialbiology.com).
back to Study Aids
Chapter
18: The ecology of organisms and populations
1. Be able to list and explain the two definitions of “ecology” we discussed in class.
2. Define the following terms: population, community, ecosystem, biosphere.
3. Be able to generate
and recognize questions that organismal, population, community, and ecosystem
ecologists might study.
4. What are some examples of abiotic (physical) factors in the environment?
5. Explain, using the idea of tolerance limits, how abiotic factors affect
the structure of communities (i.e., the distribution and abundance of
organisms).
6. Be able to list and discuss various methods for measuring population
density. What are some of the limitations of each of the these methods?
7. What are the three main types of population dispersion, and what factors
influence population dispersion?
8. What factors contribute to population growth?
9. Be able to explain, and compare and contrast, the two population growth
models we discussed in class: the exponential and the logistic models.
10. Be able to distinguish between and give examples of density-dependent
and density-independent factors that affect population growth.
11. Give an example of a population cycle-- what factors cause this cycle?
12. What are life history traits? Be able to give and recognize examples.
13. Be able to discuss the life-history trade-offs we covered in class.
Be able to compare and contrast the life-history characteristics of opportunistic
and equilibrial populations. What
kinds of species serve as examples of each type of population?
14. Be able to interpret an age structure diagram. How do these diagrams
predict the future rate of population growth for a country?
15. Discuss differences between developing and developed countries in
the following areas: rate of population growth, wealth, resource use,
ecological footprint.
16. Review your notes from our discussion at the end of Chapter 18. Should
we strive to reduce population growth rates? Why or why not? If so, how?
How can we address inequities in resource distribution and use? You may
be asked to write an essay on this topic.
