Population Growth Quiz Exam!

The color of the flower is not an example of a limiting resource for a plant because it does not directly affect the plant's ability to grow, reproduce, or survive. Limiting resources are typically essential factors such as water, sunlight, nutrients, or space that can restrict a plant's growth and development. The color of the flower is determined by genetic factors and does not play a significant role in the plant's overall health or resource allocation.

If the number of births and immigrants is greater than the number of deaths and emigration, then the population will continue to grow. This is because the influx of new individuals through births and immigration exceeds the number of individuals leaving the population through deaths and emigration.

The correct answer to this question would be a graph that shows a population initially growing rapidly, reaching a peak, and then leveling off and maintaining a stable population size. This indicates that the population has reached the carrying capacity of its ecosystem, where the available resources can support the population without further growth. This graph would typically show an S-shaped curve, known as the logistic growth curve, which represents the population growth pattern in a limited environment.

The graph shows that the number of insects in the box increases steadily from January to April, and then remains relatively constant for the rest of the year. This indicates that the population has reached its carrying capacity, which is the maximum number of individuals that the environment can support.

Section X on the graph shows a plateau where the population remains relatively stable over time. This indicates that the population has reached its carrying capacity, which is the maximum number of individuals that the environment can support. At carrying capacity, the birth rate is equal to the death rate, resulting in a stable population size.

The dashed line on the graph represents the carrying capacity of the environment. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a species that an ecosystem can sustainably support. In this context, it represents the maximum population size that the fish population can reach without depleting their resources or causing environmental degradation. The graph shows that the fish population fluctuates around the carrying capacity line, indicating that the population size is regulated by the availability of resources in the environment.

The size of a mouse population in a natural ecosystem tends to remain relatively constant due to the carrying capacity of the environment. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support sustainably. When the mouse population reaches its carrying capacity, there is limited availability of resources such as food, water, and shelter, which prevents further population growth. This balance between population size and available resources helps maintain a relatively constant population size over time.

The carrying capacity for herbivores in a habitat is most directly affected by the availability of autotrophs in the habitat. Autotrophs, such as plants, are the primary producers in an ecosystem and provide the energy and nutrients needed by herbivores. The population of herbivores in a habitat is limited by the amount of available autotrophs, as they are the main source of food for herbivores. If there is a decrease in the number of autotrophs, it will directly impact the carrying capacity of herbivores in the habitat, potentially leading to a decrease in their population size.

The correct answer is "Resources in the environment are limited." This statement best explains why the actual population growth is less than the potential population growth. Limited resources in the environment, such as food, water, and space, can restrict the population's ability to grow to its full potential. As the population size increases, competition for these limited resources intensifies, leading to a decrease in population growth.

Space is not characterized by environmental limits of population growth because it refers to the physical area or territory available for a population to inhabit. While limited space can indirectly affect population growth by influencing factors such as competition for resources and territoriality, it is not an environmental limit in itself. Environmental limits typically refer to factors such as food and water availability, shelter, predation, and carrying capacity, which directly impact the ability of a population to grow and thrive in a given environment. The logistic growth curve is a mathematical model that represents the population growth rate as it approaches and reaches its carrying capacity, which is determined by environmental factors.