Organisms and Populations — Practice

Question 1

What is the difference between a habitat and a niche?

Accepted Answer

A habitat is the physical place where an organism lives (its address), while a niche is its functional role -- what it eats, what eats it, when it is active, and how it interacts (its profession).

Question 2

Write the logistic growth equation and explain each term.

Accepted Answer

dN/dt = rN(K - N)/K. r is the intrinsic rate of increase, N the current population, K the carrying capacity, and (K - N)/K the fraction of capacity remaining, which slows growth as N approaches K.

Question 3

Give two examples of mutualism.

Accepted Answer

Lichens (fungus plus alga) and mycorrhiza (fungus plus plant roots), where both partners benefit.

Question 4

How does the kangaroo rat survive in the desert without drinking water?

Accepted Answer

It produces metabolic water from oxidising food, excretes highly concentrated urine to minimise water loss, and is nocturnal to avoid daytime heat, so it needs no drinking water.

Question 5

State Gause's competitive exclusion principle.

Accepted Answer

Two species competing for the same limited resources cannot coexist indefinitely in the same niche; one will outcompete and exclude the other.

Practice — Organisms and Populations

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