AP Biology Flashcards: Effect Of Density On Populations

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Effect Of Density On Populations, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What happens to mortality rates as density increases?

Answer: Mortality rates often increase. Stress, disease, and competition increase death rates.

Flashcard 2: State one consequence of low population density.

Answer: Reduced genetic diversity. Small populations may lack genetic variability for adaptation.

Flashcard 3: Identify a consequence of resource depletion in dense populations.

Answer: Increased competition. Depleted resources intensify struggle among remaining individuals.

Flashcard 4: What is the effect of low population density on disease spread?

Answer: Decreases the spread of disease. Fewer contacts between individuals reduce disease transmission.

Flashcard 5: What does the phrase 'density-dependent regulation' refer to?

Answer: Population regulation by factors influenced by density. Negative feedback mechanisms control population size automatically.

Flashcard 6: How does population density affect immigration?

Answer: Higher density can reduce immigration. Crowded areas are less attractive to new immigrants.

Flashcard 7: What is the relationship between population density and resource availability?

Answer: Inverse relationship; high density reduces resources. As density increases, available resources per individual decrease.

Flashcard 8: What effect does low density have on mating success?

Answer: Reduced mating opportunities. Few individuals make finding mates more difficult.

Flashcard 9: Which factor can cause a population crash?

Answer: Exceeding carrying capacity. Resources become insufficient to support large populations.

Flashcard 10: How can high population density lead to evolutionary changes?

Answer: Selective pressure increases. Competition favors traits that improve survival success.

Flashcard 11: What effect does low density have on mating success?

Answer: Reduced mating opportunities. Few individuals make finding mates more difficult.

Flashcard 12: How do changes in density affect species interactions?

Answer: Can alter predator-prey dynamics. Density changes affect competition and predation rates.

Flashcard 13: How do populations achieve equilibrium at carrying capacity?

Answer: Birth and death rates balance. Population stabilizes when births equal deaths.

Flashcard 14: What is an example of a human-induced density-independent factor?

Answer: Pollution. Chemical contamination affects populations regardless of density.

Flashcard 15: What effect does high population density have on competition?

Answer: Increases competition for resources. More individuals compete for limited resources available.

Flashcard 16: Identify a consequence of resource depletion in dense populations.

Answer: Increased competition. Depleted resources intensify struggle among remaining individuals.

Flashcard 17: What is population density?

Answer: Number of individuals per unit area or volume. Standard measurement expressing how crowded organisms are in their habitat.

Flashcard 18: How does crowding affect reproductive rates?

Answer: Crowding can lower reproductive rates. Space limitations and stress reduce breeding success.

Flashcard 19: How can high population density lead to evolutionary changes?

Answer: Selective pressure increases. Competition favors traits that improve survival success.

Flashcard 20: What is population density?

Answer: Number of individuals per unit area or volume. Standard measurement expressing how crowded organisms are in their habitat.

Flashcard 21: What happens to mortality rates as density increases?

Answer: Mortality rates often increase. Stress, disease, and competition increase death rates.

Flashcard 22: What is an example of a human-induced density-independent factor?

Answer: Pollution. Chemical contamination affects populations regardless of density.

Flashcard 23: What is the effect of density on territorial behavior?

Answer: Increases intraspecific aggression. Crowding increases fights over limited territory space.

Flashcard 24: Identify a density-dependent factor example.

Answer: Competition for resources. Intensifies as population density increases, limiting growth.

Flashcard 25: What is a potential result of exceeding the carrying capacity?

Answer: Population decline. Population crashes when resources cannot support numbers.

Flashcard 26: How does high density affect organismal stress levels?

Answer: Increases stress levels. Crowding triggers physiological stress responses in organisms.

Flashcard 27: How does human activity typically affect carrying capacity?

Answer: Often increases carrying capacity temporarily. Technology and agriculture increase resource availability.

Flashcard 28: How does crowding affect reproductive rates?

Answer: Crowding can lower reproductive rates. Space limitations and stress reduce breeding success.

Flashcard 29: What is logistic growth?

Answer: Population growth that slows as it reaches carrying capacity. S-shaped curve shows growth slowing near capacity limits.

Flashcard 30: What is exponential growth?

Answer: Population growth at a constant, rapid rate. J-shaped curve shows unrestricted growth without limits.

Flashcard 31: What is the relationship between population density and resource availability?

Answer: Inverse relationship; high density reduces resources. As density increases, available resources per individual decrease.

Flashcard 32: What role do density-independent factors play in population dynamics?

Answer: Cause fluctuations independent of density. These factors create unpredictable population changes.

Flashcard 33: How does intraspecific competition affect population density?

Answer: Regulates population size. Competition within species controls population size naturally.

Flashcard 34: What is the effect of low population density on disease spread?

Answer: Decreases the spread of disease. Fewer contacts between individuals reduce disease transmission.

Flashcard 35: Identify a density-independent factor example.

Answer: Natural disasters. Affect populations regardless of their density levels.

Flashcard 36: How does population density affect immigration?

Answer: Higher density can reduce immigration. Crowded areas are less attractive to new immigrants.

Flashcard 37: What role do density-independent factors play in population dynamics?

Answer: Cause fluctuations independent of density. These factors create unpredictable population changes.

Flashcard 38: How do populations achieve equilibrium at carrying capacity?

Answer: Birth and death rates balance. Population stabilizes when births equal deaths.

Flashcard 39: How does high density affect organismal stress levels?

Answer: Increases stress levels. Crowding triggers physiological stress responses in organisms.

Flashcard 40: How does intraspecific competition affect population density?

Answer: Regulates population size. Competition within species controls population size naturally.

Flashcard 41: What is the effect of density on territorial behavior?

Answer: Increases intraspecific aggression. Crowding increases fights over limited territory space.

Flashcard 42: How do changes in density affect species interactions?

Answer: Can alter predator-prey dynamics. Density changes affect competition and predation rates.

Flashcard 43: How does human activity typically affect carrying capacity?

Answer: Often increases carrying capacity temporarily. Technology and agriculture increase resource availability.

Flashcard 44: Which factor can cause a population crash?

Answer: Exceeding carrying capacity. Resources become insufficient to support large populations.