AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Population Growth And Resource Availability

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Population Growth And Resource Availability, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Environmental Science.

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 a population when birth rates equal death rates?

Answer: Population size remains stable. Zero population growth occurs when births equal deaths.

Flashcard 2: Identify one example of a density-dependent factor.

Answer: Competition for resources. Effect intensifies as population density increases.

Flashcard 3: Which factor is considered an abiotic limiting factor?

Answer: Water availability. Non-living environmental factor that constrains population size.

Flashcard 4: Identify one consequence of exceeding carrying capacity.

Answer: Population decline or collapse. Overshoot leads to resource depletion and population crash.

Flashcard 5: Explain the concept of demographic transition.

Answer: Shift from high birth and death rates to low rates as a country develops. Economic development typically reduces birth and death rates over time.

Flashcard 6: What is the significance of $e$ in growth equations?

Answer: Base of the natural logarithm, used in continuous growth models. Mathematical constant approximately 2.718 for exponential functions.

Flashcard 7: Which model represents human population growth?

Answer: Exponential growth model. Humans show J-shaped growth despite resource limitations.

Flashcard 8: Name a human activity that affects carrying capacity.

Answer: Agriculture. Human activities can increase or decrease environmental carrying capacity.

Flashcard 9: Identify a renewable resource that can affect carrying capacity.

Answer: Forests. Renewable resources can sustainably support populations when managed properly.

Flashcard 10: Explain the concept of demographic transition.

Answer: Shift from high birth and death rates to low rates as a country develops. Economic development typically reduces birth and death rates over time.

Flashcard 11: Define carrying capacity.

Answer: Carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can sustain. Environmental limit determined by resource availability and space constraints.

Flashcard 12: Explain what $r$ represents in population equations.

Answer: Intrinsic rate of increase. Maximum per capita growth rate under ideal conditions.

Flashcard 13: What is the effect of low mortality rates on population size?

Answer: Increases population size. Fewer deaths means more individuals survive to reproduce.

Flashcard 14: What happens to a population when birth rates equal death rates?

Answer: Population size remains stable. Zero population growth occurs when births equal deaths.

Flashcard 15: Which factor is an example of environmental resistance?

Answer: Predation. Density-dependent factor that removes individuals from population.

Flashcard 16: Identify the shape of a logistic growth curve.

Answer: An S-shaped curve. Initial slow growth accelerates, then levels off at carrying capacity.

Flashcard 17: What is the effect of low mortality rates on population size?

Answer: Increases population size. Fewer deaths means more individuals survive to reproduce.

Flashcard 18: Identify one effect of resource abundance on populations.

Answer: Supports population growth. Adequate resources reduce environmental resistance and mortality.

Flashcard 19: What is the result of high emigration rates on population size?

Answer: Decreases population size. Net loss of individuals reduces total population size.

Flashcard 20: What is the effect of high birth rates on population size?

Answer: Increases population size. More births than deaths leads to population expansion.

Flashcard 21: Which model represents human population growth?

Answer: Exponential growth model. Humans show J-shaped growth despite resource limitations.

Flashcard 22: How does urbanization affect population growth?

Answer: Often decreases birth rates. Urban living typically reduces family size and birth rates.

Flashcard 23: What does a J-shaped curve indicate in population studies?

Answer: Exponential growth. Characteristic shape of unlimited exponential population growth.

Flashcard 24: Which type of population growth is density-independent?

Answer: Exponential growth. Growth rate remains constant regardless of population density.

Flashcard 25: What is a limiting factor in population growth?

Answer: A resource that restricts population size. Environmental factor that prevents populations from reaching biotic potential.

Flashcard 26: State the equation for per capita growth rate.

Answer: $r = \frac{\text{births} - \text{deaths}}{N}$. Measures net change in population size per individual.

Flashcard 27: What is the impact of resource availability on population growth?

Answer: Limited resources slow population growth. Scarcity creates competition and density-dependent factors that reduce growth rates.

Flashcard 28: What is the result of high emigration rates on population size?

Answer: Decreases population size. Net loss of individuals reduces total population size.

Flashcard 29: What is a limiting factor in population growth?

Answer: A resource that restricts population size. Environmental factor that prevents populations from reaching biotic potential.

Flashcard 30: What is the main feature of a population experiencing logistic growth?

Answer: Population growth slows as it approaches carrying capacity. Environmental resistance increases as population approaches $K$.

Flashcard 31: What is the significance of $t$ in growth equations?

Answer: Time period over which growth is measured. Time variable represents duration of growth or observation period.

Flashcard 32: Explain what $r$ represents in population equations.

Answer: Intrinsic rate of increase. Maximum per capita growth rate under ideal conditions.

Flashcard 33: Describe the role of disease in population dynamics.

Answer: Acts as a density-dependent limiting factor. Spreads faster in dense populations, reducing survival rates.

Flashcard 34: State the formula for logistic population growth.

Answer: $N_t = \frac{K N_0}{N_0 + (K - N_0)e^{-rt}}$. Accounts for environmental resistance that slows growth near carrying capacity.

Flashcard 35: Identify one consequence of exceeding carrying capacity.

Answer: Population decline or collapse. Overshoot leads to resource depletion and population crash.

Flashcard 36: What is the role of competition in population dynamics?

Answer: Limits population size through resource scarcity. Intraspecific competition intensifies as resources become scarce.

Flashcard 37: What is the main feature of a population experiencing logistic growth?

Answer: Population growth slows as it approaches carrying capacity. Environmental resistance increases as population approaches $K$.

Flashcard 38: Define the term 'biotic potential'.

Answer: Maximum reproductive capacity under optimal conditions. Theoretical maximum growth rate without environmental limitations.

Flashcard 39: What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Answer: Biotic factors are living; abiotic are non-living elements. Distinguishes between living organisms and physical environmental components.

Flashcard 40: What is the formula for exponential population growth?

Answer: $N_t = N_0 e^{rt}$. Models unlimited growth where population multiplies by constant factor over time.

Flashcard 41: Define carrying capacity.

Answer: Carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can sustain. Environmental limit determined by resource availability and space constraints.

Flashcard 42: What is the formula for exponential population growth?

Answer: $N_t = N_0 e^{rt}$. Models unlimited growth where population multiplies by constant factor over time.

Flashcard 43: Which type of population growth is density-independent?

Answer: Exponential growth. Growth rate remains constant regardless of population density.

Flashcard 44: What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Answer: Biotic factors are living; abiotic are non-living elements. Distinguishes between living organisms and physical environmental components.

Flashcard 45: What is the significance of $t$ in growth equations?

Answer: Time period over which growth is measured. Time variable represents duration of growth or observation period.

Flashcard 46: What is the main characteristic of a population in the stationary phase?

Answer: Growth rate is zero; population size stabilizes. Population has reached carrying capacity with balanced birth and death rates.

Flashcard 47: Identify a factor that can lower biotic potential.

Answer: Limited food supply. Resource scarcity reduces reproductive success and survival.

Flashcard 48: Identify one example of a density-dependent factor.

Answer: Competition for resources. Effect intensifies as population density increases.

Flashcard 49: What does the variable $K$ represent in population modeling?

Answer: Carrying capacity. Maximum sustainable population size for a given environment.

Flashcard 50: Define environmental resistance.

Answer: Factors that limit population growth. Combined biotic and abiotic factors that limit population growth.

Flashcard 51: Which model assumes unlimited resources?

Answer: Exponential growth model. Assumes infinite resources and no environmental resistance to growth.

Flashcard 52: What is the role of competition in population dynamics?

Answer: Limits population size through resource scarcity. Intraspecific competition intensifies as resources become scarce.