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AP®Environmental ScienceCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 3: PopulationsCarrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

3 mins3 questions
11 mark

Which of the following best defines carrying capacity in an ecological context?

  • The maximum number of individuals in a population that an ecosystem can support indefinitely based on available resources and environmental conditions.

  • The total number of species that can coexist within a given ecosystem without competition.

  • The maximum rate at which a population can grow under ideal conditions without limiting factors.

  • The number of individuals in a population at any given time, regardless of resource availability.

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21 mark

Which of the following describes the transitional phase in an S-population curve?

  • The population grows rapidly and exponentially due to abundant resources

  • The population reaches a stable size, fluctuating around the carrying capacity

  • Increased competition for resources slows down the rate of population growth

  • The population is very small, and growth is initially slow

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31 mark

Identify the correct sequence of population phases based on an S-curve.

  • Lag Phase → Exponential Growth → Transitional Phase → Plateau

  • Exponential Growth → Lag Phase → Plateau → Transitional Phase

  • Plateau → Exponential Growth → Lag Phase → Transitional Phase

  • Exponential Growth → Transitional Phase → Plateau → Lag Phase

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