Question

ap biology free - response questions
(a) describe what is occurring in the population during phase a.
(b) discuss three factors that might cause the fluctuations shown in phase b.
(c) organisms demonstrate exponential (r) or logistic (k) reproductive strategies. explain these two strategies and discuss how they affect population size over time.
answer on loose - leaf paper

Explanation:

(a) In phase A, the population is experiencing exponential growth as resources are abundant and limiting factors are minimal.
(b) Three factors for phase B fluctuations could be: predation - predators can reduce prey population; competition - for resources like food and space; and disease - which can spread and decrease population size.
(c) Exponential (r) strategy: Organisms have high reproductive rates with many offspring, short - lived, and little parental care. It leads to rapid population growth when resources are available but can crash when resources run out. Logistic (K) strategy: Organisms have lower reproductive rates, fewer offspring, more parental care, and the population growth slows as it approaches the carrying capacity (K) of the environment, resulting in a stable population size around K.

Answer:

(a) Exponential growth due to abundant resources.
(b) Predation, competition, disease.
(c) Exponential (r): High reproductive rate, many offspring, rapid growth when resources available. Logistic (K): Lower reproductive rate, fewer offspring, stable around carrying capacity.