AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Survivorship Curves

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Survivorship Curves, 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 curve type might you expect for a species with prolonged parental care?

Answer: Type I. Extended care increases offspring survival rates during vulnerable early stages.

Flashcard 2: What does a Type II curve imply about age-specific survival rates?

Answer: They are uniform across ages. Constant mortality rate means age doesn't affect an individual's death probability.

Flashcard 3: What type of survivorship curve do oysters exhibit?

Answer: Type III. Oysters produce many larvae but few survive to adulthood.

Flashcard 4: Which survivorship curve often results in stable population sizes?

Answer: Type I. High early survival rates lead to predictable population demographics.

Flashcard 5: Which curve type is seen in many annual plants?

Answer: Type III. Annual plants produce many seeds but most fail to establish successfully.

Flashcard 6: What does a Type II curve imply about age-specific survival rates?

Answer: They are uniform across ages. Constant mortality rate means age doesn't affect an individual's death probability.

Flashcard 7: What curve type is likely for a species with a high survival rate in youth?

Answer: Type I. Strong early survival indicates significant parental investment and care strategies.

Flashcard 8: Identify the curve type with the least parental care.

Answer: Type III. Minimal parental investment results in high offspring mortality rates.

Flashcard 9: What is a Type I survivorship curve?

Answer: A curve where most individuals survive to old age. Characterized by low juvenile mortality and high survival rates until old age.

Flashcard 10: Which organisms usually exhibit a Type III curve?

Answer: Fish, insects, and plants. R-selected species that produce many offspring with minimal parental investment.

Flashcard 11: In which type of curve do few individuals reach maturity?

Answer: Type III. Extreme juvenile mortality prevents most offspring from reaching reproductive maturity.

Flashcard 12: What type of curve is seen in organisms with low juvenile mortality?

Answer: Type I. Strong early survival indicates effective protection during vulnerable life stages.

Flashcard 13: Describe a Type III survivorship curve.

Answer: High mortality in early life, few survivors live long. Most offspring die young, but those that survive have good longevity prospects.

Flashcard 14: Which survivorship curve is typical for humans?

Answer: Type I. Humans exhibit low early mortality with most deaths occurring in old age.

Flashcard 15: Which survivorship curve often results in stable population sizes?

Answer: Type I. High early survival rates lead to predictable population demographics.

Flashcard 16: Which curve type is typical for species in unpredictable environments?

Answer: Type III. High reproductive output strategy works well in variable environmental conditions.

Flashcard 17: What type of organisms typically follow a Type I curve?

Answer: Humans and large mammals. K-selected species that invest heavily in parental care and offspring survival.

Flashcard 18: Identify the curve type for species with high early-life investment.

Answer: Type I. K-selected species prioritize offspring quality through substantial resource investment.

Flashcard 19: Which curve type is associated with a steep initial decline?

Answer: Type III. Rapid early mortality creates a characteristic sharp downward curve slope.

Flashcard 20: Which type of curve is associated with high parental care?

Answer: Type I. Extensive parental care reduces juvenile mortality and extends lifespan.

Flashcard 21: How does a Type II curve differ from a Type I?

Answer: Type II has a constant mortality rate. Type I shows age-dependent mortality while Type II shows age-independent mortality.

Flashcard 22: What shape does a Type II survivorship curve form?

Answer: Linear. A straight diagonal line represents constant mortality rate across all ages.

Flashcard 23: What is the main feature of a Type I survivorship curve?

Answer: Low early mortality, high late-life mortality. Survival remains high until advanced age when senescence increases mortality.

Flashcard 24: What is a Type I survivorship curve?

Answer: A curve where most individuals survive to old age. Characterized by low juvenile mortality and high survival rates until old age.

Flashcard 25: Which type of curve describes constant risk of death?

Answer: Type II. Age-independent mortality means death probability stays constant throughout life.

Flashcard 26: Which survivorship curve is likely for animals with high early mortality?

Answer: Type III. Most deaths occur in juvenile stages before reproductive maturity.

Flashcard 27: Which curve type is more likely in stable environments?

Answer: Type I. Stable conditions favor species with low juvenile mortality and extended lifespans.

Flashcard 28: What shape is associated with a Type III curve?

Answer: Convex. The curve bulges outward, showing rapid early decline in survival.

Flashcard 29: Which type of curve may indicate a balanced age structure?

Answer: Type II. Consistent mortality across age groups creates stable demographic patterns.

Flashcard 30: What characterizes a Type II survivorship curve?

Answer: A constant death rate throughout lifespan. Mortality probability remains the same regardless of age throughout the organism's life.

Flashcard 31: Which survivorship curve is typical for humans?

Answer: Type I. Humans exhibit low early mortality with most deaths occurring in old age.

Flashcard 32: What curve type is likely for a species with a high survival rate in youth?

Answer: Type I. Strong early survival indicates significant parental investment and care strategies.

Flashcard 33: Identify the curve type with the least parental care.

Answer: Type III. Minimal parental investment results in high offspring mortality rates.

Flashcard 34: What is a key feature of populations following a Type III curve?

Answer: Large numbers of offspring with high early mortality. R-strategy compensates for low survival probability with quantity over quality.

Flashcard 35: What type of survivorship curve might a tree with many seeds have?

Answer: Type III. Mass seed production with minimal investment per individual seed.

Flashcard 36: What type of curve is associated with organisms producing many offspring?

Answer: Type III. Quantity-over-quality reproductive strategy maximizes potential population growth.

Flashcard 37: Which type of curve is associated with high parental care?

Answer: Type I. Extensive parental care reduces juvenile mortality and extends lifespan.

Flashcard 38: In which type of curve do few individuals reach maturity?

Answer: Type III. Extreme juvenile mortality prevents most offspring from reaching reproductive maturity.

Flashcard 39: What is the typical shape of a Type I survivorship curve?

Answer: Concave. The curve bends downward, showing delayed mortality until later life stages.

Flashcard 40: What is the typical lifespan pattern in Type II curves?

Answer: Uniform survivorship throughout life. Equal probability of death at any age creates steady population decline.

Flashcard 41: Which type of survivorship curve suggests a high birth rate?

Answer: Type III. High reproductive output compensates for extremely high juvenile mortality rates.

Flashcard 42: Which curve type is more likely in stable environments?

Answer: Type I. Stable conditions favor species with low juvenile mortality and extended lifespans.

Flashcard 43: Describe a Type III survivorship curve.

Answer: High mortality in early life, few survivors live long. Most offspring die young, but those that survive have good longevity prospects.

Flashcard 44: Identify the curve type for species with high early-life investment.

Answer: Type I. K-selected species prioritize offspring quality through substantial resource investment.

Flashcard 45: Which survivorship curve is likely for animals with high early mortality?

Answer: Type III. Most deaths occur in juvenile stages before reproductive maturity.

Flashcard 46: What type of survivorship curve do oysters exhibit?

Answer: Type III. Oysters produce many larvae but few survive to adulthood.

Flashcard 47: How does a Type II curve differ from a Type I?

Answer: Type II has a constant mortality rate. Type I shows age-dependent mortality while Type II shows age-independent mortality.

Flashcard 48: In a Type III curve, when do most individuals die?

Answer: In the early stages of life. High juvenile mortality eliminates most individuals before reaching reproductive age.

Flashcard 49: What is the main feature of a Type I survivorship curve?

Answer: Low early mortality, high late-life mortality. Survival remains high until advanced age when senescence increases mortality.

Flashcard 50: What type of organisms typically follow a Type I curve?

Answer: Humans and large mammals. K-selected species that invest heavily in parental care and offspring survival.

Flashcard 51: Which curve type is typical for species in unpredictable environments?

Answer: Type III. High reproductive output strategy works well in variable environmental conditions.

Flashcard 52: What is a key feature of populations following a Type III curve?

Answer: Large numbers of offspring with high early mortality. R-strategy compensates for low survival probability with quantity over quality.

Flashcard 53: Which type of curve may indicate a balanced age structure?

Answer: Type II. Consistent mortality across age groups creates stable demographic patterns.

Flashcard 54: Which curve type is associated with a steep initial decline?

Answer: Type III. Rapid early mortality creates a characteristic sharp downward curve slope.

Flashcard 55: Which type of curve describes constant risk of death?

Answer: Type II. Age-independent mortality means death probability stays constant throughout life.

Flashcard 56: What shape is associated with a Type III curve?

Answer: Convex. The curve bulges outward, showing rapid early decline in survival.

Flashcard 57: Which curve type indicates a species with constant age-specific mortality?

Answer: Type II. Mortality probability remains unchanged regardless of the organism's current age.

Flashcard 58: Which type of survivorship curve suggests a high birth rate?

Answer: Type III. High reproductive output compensates for extremely high juvenile mortality rates.

Flashcard 59: What is the typical lifespan pattern in Type II curves?

Answer: Uniform survivorship throughout life. Equal probability of death at any age creates steady population decline.

Flashcard 60: What characterizes a Type II survivorship curve?

Answer: A constant death rate throughout lifespan. Mortality probability remains the same regardless of age throughout the organism's life.

Flashcard 61: What type of curve is associated with organisms producing many offspring?

Answer: Type III. Quantity-over-quality reproductive strategy maximizes potential population growth.

Flashcard 62: Which curve type is seen in many annual plants?

Answer: Type III. Annual plants produce many seeds but most fail to establish successfully.

Flashcard 63: What type of survivorship curve might a tree with many seeds have?

Answer: Type III. Mass seed production with minimal investment per individual seed.

Flashcard 64: What is the typical shape of a Type I survivorship curve?

Answer: Concave. The curve bends downward, showing delayed mortality until later life stages.

Flashcard 65: What shape does a Type II survivorship curve form?

Answer: Linear. A straight diagonal line represents constant mortality rate across all ages.

Flashcard 66: Which organisms usually exhibit a Type III curve?

Answer: Fish, insects, and plants. R-selected species that produce many offspring with minimal parental investment.

Flashcard 67: State the main difference between Type II and Type III curves.

Answer: Type II has constant mortality; Type III has high early mortality. Type II maintains steady mortality while Type III front-loads deaths early.

Flashcard 68: Identify organisms that typically follow a Type II curve.

Answer: Birds and some reptiles. Species with moderate parental investment and relatively stable mortality rates.

Flashcard 69: State the main difference between Type II and Type III curves.

Answer: Type II has constant mortality; Type III has high early mortality. Type II maintains steady mortality while Type III front-loads deaths early.

Flashcard 70: Which curve type indicates a species with constant age-specific mortality?

Answer: Type II. Mortality probability remains unchanged regardless of the organism's current age.

Flashcard 71: Identify organisms that typically follow a Type II curve.

Answer: Birds and some reptiles. Species with moderate parental investment and relatively stable mortality rates.

Flashcard 72: In which type of curve does mortality occur after reproductive age?

Answer: Type I. Most individuals survive to reproduce before experiencing age-related mortality.

Flashcard 73: What type of curve is seen in organisms with low juvenile mortality?

Answer: Type I. Strong early survival indicates effective protection during vulnerable life stages.

Flashcard 74: In which type of curve does mortality occur after reproductive age?

Answer: Type I. Most individuals survive to reproduce before experiencing age-related mortality.