BIO I Limiting Factors

Which of the following is NOT a density-dependent limiting factor

Hurricane

Why are parasitism and disease considered density-dependent effects?

They spread more easily in dense populations

What is an example of a density-independent limiting factor

Drought

What is the primary reason scientists study wildebeest data cards

To understand patterns affecting health and survival

Which environmental factor in the northern Serengeti benefits wildebeest year-round?

The Mara River

What indicates poor nutritional health in wildebeest?

Low bone marrow fat

What survival strategy is demonstrated by mass calving

Overwhelming predators

When do wildebeest typically mate?

When in good health

An isolated island ecosystem is home to a unique population of seabirds that primarily feed on small fish found in the surrounding waters. Recently, an invasive species of predatory fish was introduced to the island's waters, which has begun preying on the small fish.

What is the limiting factor in this scenario?

Competition for food due to the predatory fish

If the predatory fish population grows unchecked, the seabird population is likely to increase due to more available prey.

False

Read the below passage and then answer the questions.

Was President Roosevelt's plan to protect the Kaibab deer successful?

The Kaibab deer are a population of mule deer that live in Arizona near the Grand Canyon in an area known as the Kaibab Plateau. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon National Game Preserve to protect this population of deer which he called, "America's Finest". To help support this deer population, hunting was banned and the Forest Service began eliminating the deer's predators. From 1907 to 1939 approximately 8000 predators were killed including bears, coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions. Soon after, there was a large increase in the population growth of the deer. In 1920, the Forest Service reduced the number of livestock permits for grazing animals hoping to preserve the grazing land for the large population of deer. By 1924, the Kaibab deer population had grown to approximately 100,000. Hunting was reopened, but it did little to reduce the size of the herd. Over the next two years, approximately 60,000 deer starved to death. The Kaibab deer population continues to be monitored and maintained using hunting and natural predator populations to keep the deer population under control.

CLick on the CODAP link and open the graph. Create a graph of the population of Kaibab mule deer from 1905 – 1939.

What was the primary cause of the deer population explosion?

Removal of natural predators

How would you describe the graph.

positve realationship and then negative

The mass starvation of deer occurred because of

Insufficient food resources

What was the primary consequence of the deer population explosion?

Mass starvation of deer

The Kaibab deer case study demonstrates:

The effects of human intervention in ecosystems

What factor is a density-independent limiting factor in this case study?

Theodore Roosevelt

What factor(s) is/are a density-dependent factor in this case study? (Choose all that apply)

• Predators

• Food

• Space

(everything but Theodore Roosevelt)