Biology (and other Life Sciences
Biology (and other Life Sciences
Homework 2
Due November 13th
Question 1: Life Table Analysis (5 pts)
Age in
mo. (X)
# surviving
interval
lx # of
offspring
Fx lxFx
1 400 0
2 76 0 C
3 66 5
4 55 A 20
5 45 100 D
6 16 10
7 10 8
8 9 10
9 2 0
Total B E
Fill in A-E
i) A _____
ii) B _____
iii) C _____
iv) D _____
v) E ________
Question 2: Population growth/demography: The equation for logistic growth in a
particular population is: dN/dt = 0.4N(1-N/100). Time is measured in months and
biomass is measured in grams. The carrying capacity of the population is: (4 pts.)
Question 3: Population growth/demography: The general equation for the type of
population growth trajectory pictured below is: Nt
= N0e
rt. What is the intrinsic rate of
increase of a population following this trajectory if its doubling time is 30 days? (5pts.)
N
Time
Question 4: Population growth/demography: In the graph above, the intrinsic rate of
increase, r, is greater at point A than B. (3pts. Note this question is phrased slightly
differently on the on-line versus, with a different graph)
a) True.
b) No, r is less at A than at B.
c) They are equal at A and B.
d) Can’t determine without more information.
A
B
Graphed below are the isoclines of two competing species. One of these species will
eventually go extinct. Use this graph to answer the questions below.
Question 5: Interspecific Competition: In which region of the graph (areas 1-4) are
each of the following occurring? (4pts.)
Area 1 ____ 1) both species are decreasing.
Area 2 ____ 2) species 1 is increasing, species 2 decreasing.
Area 3 ____ 3) species 1 is decreasing, species 2 increasing.
Area 4 ____ 4) both species are increasing.
Question 6: Interspecific Competition: Recalling that this is an unstable equilibrium,
what are the carrying capacities and competition coefficients for species 1 and 2? (6pts.)
a) K1 = 300, K2 = 200, ? =1, ?= 0.6
b) K1 = 200, K2 = 300, ? =1, ? = 2.5
c) K1 = 300, K2 = 200, ? =1.9, ? = 1
d) K1 = 200, K2 = 300, ? =1, ? = 0.6
e) none of the above
Question 7: Interspecific Competition: In the absence of the other, species 1 and 2 will
exhibit _______population growth. (4pts)
a) random
b) exponential
c) logistic
d) cyclical
e) none of the above
200
200
300
120
1
2
3
4
0
N1
N2
Question 8: Interspecific Competition: For a particular location, two bird species
(Species 1 and Species 2) are competing. For this location, we know that: K1=50, K2=20,
alpha=2.00, beta=1.00
Which bird species wins the competition? (6 pts)
a) species 1
b) species 2
c) they coexist
d) you can’t tell, as it is an unstable equilibrium
e) none of the above
The oval in the graph above illustrates the cyclically changing numbers of predators and
prey oscillating according to the Lotka-Volterra model. “C” represents the number of the
carnivore predators and “H” represents the number of herbivore prey.
Question 9: Predator-Prey Population Dynamics: In which area of the graph, indicated
by the numbers 1-4, are each of the following occurring: (4pts.)
Area 1 _____ 1) both predators and prey are declining.
Area 2 _____ 2) the predator population grows while the prey
declines
Area 3 _____ 3) both the predator and prey populations are growing
Area 4 _____ 4) the prey population is growing while the
predator population declines
Question 10: Predator-Prey Population Dynamics: In the graph above, if the intrinsic
rate of increase of the prey is 1, what is the search and attack efficiency of the predator?
(5pts.)
a) 1 b) 0.5 c) 0.025 d) 0.1 e) none of the above
Question 11: Predator-Prey Population Dynamics: Which of the following are
assumptions of the predator-prey model described by the equations: dN/dt = rN-aNP and
dP/dt = faNP –dP. Circle all that apply. (4pts.)
a) the prey are limited by food
b) predator death rate is density dependent
c) prey grow exponentially in the absence of predators
d) predators can consume an infinite amount of prey
e) predators grow exponentially in the absence of prey
WARNING: D2L randomizes the questions that call for matching (for questions 1, 5
and 9). So that you will be asked to match a series of things, but they will be asked
randomly so that for instance in Question 1, you will asked about the letters A-E in
random order.