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SC.912.L.17.5 Population Size

Terms in this set (10)

Mullet are local estuarine fish that move in schools and feed on plankton and plant matter. Natural predators of the mullet include spotted sea trout, sharks, pelicans and dolphins. The graph below shows how the number of mullet in an area has changed over time.

Based on the data, one student concludes that a new predator was introduced into the area during this time period. Which of the following is a likely alternate explanation for the change in the mullet population?
the amount of aquatic plants in the area decreased

If the amount of the major producer in an area is reduced, populations of consumers will also be reduced. Since the mullet feed on aquatic plants, their population would decline in response to declining numbers of plants.
How does the predator-prey relationship affect a population?
The relationship controls the population size of both species.

The predators keep the prey population under control and the size of the population of prey limits the amount of predators an ecosystem can support.
Data on the immigration and emigration of a fish species would be most helpful in determining which of the following?
population of the species

Population size is determined by births, deaths, immigration and emigration.
When an environment has reached its carrying capacity for a certain population, which of the following is true?
Growth and immigration rate is equal to death and emigration rate.

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that can exist in a given environment given the resources.
The pH of the water in several lakes in Norway and Sweden had decreased to below 5.0 due to an increase in acid rain. Which of the following is most likely to happen in these lakes?
the decline of several fish populations

Fish are sensitive to changes in pH and would experience a decrease in numbers if a shift in the pH of the water occurred.
Which of the following is a limiting factor in a population of organisms.
availability of food

The availability of food is a limiting factor in a population of organisms. If there is not enough food, some of the organisms will die and the population will decrease in
number.
Which of the following are abiotic factors that shape ecosystems?
wind, precipitation, and soil type

Abiotic factors are those that are non-living.
The common brushtail possum is a marsupial native to Australia. This possum was introduced to New Zealand where it had no natural predators and had an abundant food supply. Which of these likely occurred a few years after the introduction of this possum to New Zealand?
The possum population grew to a larger size.

With no natural predators, the possum population was allowed to grow unchecked.
The number of pythons found throughout Everglades National Park has increased in recent years. These huge snakes are not native to Florida and are believed to have been released into the wild by pet owners. Wildlife biologists have initiated attempts to capture and remove these pythons. Which statement best explains the biologists' reasons for removing these pythons from the Everglades?
The pythons could prey on native organisms and cause native population to decline.

Introduced species often prey on native organisms declining their populations, sometimes to extinction.
Why are there so few aquatic plants and phytoplankton that live at the bottom zones in the ocean?
Most sunlight is absorbed before reaching these levels.

Plants and phytoplankton are primary producers that rely on the sun to carry out photosynthesis. The bottom zones of the ocean have little to no light.
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