Questions on Population Structure and Growth (Ecology)
Multiple-Choice Questions: Population Structure and Growth
1. What does population structure refer to in ecology?
A) The shape of the landscape a population inhabits
B) The genetic makeup of individuals in a population
C) The age and sex distribution within a population
D) The number of species in an ecosystem
E) The trophic levels in a community
2. What type of graph is commonly used to show population structure?
A) Line graph
B) Bar chart
C) Population pyramid
D) Pie chart
E) Scatter plot
3. A population pyramid with a wide base suggests:
A) A declining population
B) A stable population
C) An aging population
D) Rapid population growth
E) Low birth rate
4. Which factor does NOT directly affect population size?
A) Birth rate
B) Immigration
C) Death rate
D) Emigration
E) Cloud formation
5. What is the term for the number of individuals in a given area?
A) Biomass
B) Population structure
C) Density
D) Dispersion
E) Capacity
6. What is carrying capacity?
A) The maximum speed a population can grow
B) The maximum number of species in a habitat
C) The maximum population size that an environment can sustain
D) The amount of energy transferred between trophic levels
E) The birth rate in stable populations
7. Which of the following is a density-dependent factor?
A) Flood
B) Earthquake
C) Disease
D) Temperature
E) Sunlight
8. Which is a density-independent factor affecting population growth?
A) Disease
B) Predation
C) Competition
D) Drought
E) Food shortage
9. The exponential growth model assumes:
A) Limited resources
B) Environmental resistance
C) Unlimited resources
D) Carrying capacity
E) Aging populations
10. In a logistic growth model, population growth:
A) Increases indefinitely
B) Is constant
C) Slows as it reaches carrying capacity
D) Decreases over time
E) Is independent of resources
11. What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?
A) It becomes immortal
B) It stabilizes quickly
C) It crashes or declines
D) It migrates
E) It increases exponentially
12. What term describes the pattern of how individuals are spaced within a population?
A) Density
B) Distribution
C) Structure
D) Clustering
E) Aggregation
13. Which of the following is an example of clumped distribution?
A) Trees planted in rows
B) Penguins nesting in colonies
C) Seeds scattered evenly by wind
D) Birds randomly flying in the sky
E) Crops in a farm field
14. What is population growth rate?
A) Number of individuals in a population
B) Rate at which energy is transferred in a food chain
C) Increase or decrease in population size over time
D) Number of species in a biome
E) Average age of individuals
15. What is zero population growth (ZPG)?
A) No births or deaths
B) Birth rate equals death rate
C) Population grows at a slow rate
D) Immigration exceeds emigration
E) All individuals are infertile
16. A high infant mortality rate often results in:
A) Population aging
B) Lower birth rates
C) Higher birth rates to compensate
D) Zero population growth
E) Longer life expectancy
17. Which age group is most important for predicting future population growth?
A) Elderly population
B) Working-age adults
C) Pre-reproductive age group
D) Retired population
E) Post-reproductive adults
18. Which of the following reduces population growth?
A) High birth rate
B) Low infant mortality
C) Access to education and healthcare
D) High fertility rate
E) Increase in food supply
19. What does a top-heavy population pyramid suggest?
A) A growing young population
B) A balanced population
C) An aging population
D) Rapid birth rates
E) High infant mortality
20. What happens during the lag phase of population growth?
A) Rapid population increase
B) Population declines
C) Growth is slow as individuals adapt
D) Death rate exceeds birth rate
E) All individuals reach reproductive age
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Answer Key with Explanations
1. C – Population structure refers to the age and sex composition of a population.
2. C – Population pyramids are used to represent age and sex distribution visually.
3. D – A wide base indicates many young individuals and rapid growth.
4. E – Cloud formation doesn’t directly affect population size.
5. C – Population density is the number of individuals per unit area.
6. C – Carrying capacity is the maximum population an environment can sustain.
7. C – Disease affects more individuals in denser populations (density-dependent).
8. D – Drought affects populations regardless of their size (density-independent).
9. C – Exponential growth assumes unlimited resources and no environmental resistance.
10. C – Logistic growth slows as the population nears carrying capacity.
11. C – Exceeding carrying capacity often leads to a population crash.
12. B – Distribution describes how individuals are spaced in an area.
13. B – Penguins group together, showing clumped distribution.
14. C – Growth rate reflects how a population increases or decreases over time.
15. B – ZPG happens when birth and death rates are equal.
16. C – High infant mortality often leads to higher birth rates to offset losses.
17. C – The pre-reproductive group determines future growth potential.
18. C – Education and healthcare access usually reduce fertility and growth.
19. C – A top-heavy pyramid shows a large aging population with fewer young people.
20. C – The lag phase is a period of slow growth as the population begins to establish.
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