T

H
E
CAT RC Practice Sets
TM
V
E
R
B
A
L

M
E
N
T

RC #6
O
R
 VARC 100: RC#6
While an understanding of the processes which regulate the abundance of animal populations is 1. All of the following are mentioned or implied as factors behind a
T fundamentally important both to applied biology and to ecology in general, it is a subject on which there are lack of consensus among scientists about the processes by which
very considerable divergences of opinion. These divergences, which have been so much discussed during the animals regulate their populations, except
H past two or three decades, may be attributed to a number of causes: to the common tendency to embrace (A) Linguistic ambiguities
partial, one-sided explanations instead of seeking a comprehensive viewpoint; to the diverse views
E engendered by the study of ecologically different groups of animals, or by a too exclusive attention to either
(B) Myopic approach to the subject
(C) Divergence in sample selection and empirical data
the biotic or the physical aspects of ecology; and, besides these outcomes of specialization, to confusion and
misunderstanding over the use of certain terms. (D) Absence of any specialization on the subject
V The departure point, the point of agreement, is that although numbers of animals in a given region may 2. Which of the following, if true, would best support the density-
E fluctuate from year to year, the fluctuations are often temporary and, over long periods, trivial. Basis this,
scientists have advanced three theories of population control to account for this relative constancy.
dependent theory of population control as it is described in the
passage?
R The first theory attributes a relatively constant population to periodic climatic catastrophes that decimate (A) As the number of foxes in Minnesota decreases, the growth
populations with such frequency as to prevent them from exceeding some particular limit. In the case of small rate of this population of foxes begins to increase.
B organisms with short life cycles, climatic changes need not be catastrophic: normal seasonal changes in (B) As the number of woodpeckers in Vermont decreases, the
photoperiod (daily amount of sunlight), for example, can govern population growth. This theory—the density-
A independent view—asserts that climatic factors exert the same regulatory effect on population regardless of
growth rate of this population of woodpeckers also begins to
decrease.
the number of individuals in a region.
L (C) As the number of prairie dogs in Oklahoma increases, the
A second theory argues that population growth is primarily density-dependent—that is, the rate of growth of a growth rate of this population of prairie dogs also begins to
population in a region decreases as the number of animals increases. The mechanisms that manage regulation increase.
M may vary. For example, as numbers increase, the food supply would probably diminish, which would increase (D) After the number of beavers in Tennessee decreases, the
number of predators of these beavers begins to increase.
mortality. In addition, as Lotka and Volterra have shown, predators can find prey more easily in high-density
E populations. Other regulators include physiological control mechanisms: for example, Christian and Davis have
demonstrated how the crowding that results from a rise in numbers may bring about hormonal changes in the
N pituitary and adrenal glands that in turn may regulate population by lowering sexual activity and inhibiting
sexual maturation. There is evidence that these effects may persist for three generations in the absence of the
T original provocation. One challenge for density-dependent theorists is to develop models that would allow the
O precise prediction of the effects of crowding.

R A third theory, proposed by Wynne-Edwards and termed “epideictic,” argues that organisms have evolved a
“code” in the form of social or epideictic behavior displays, such as winter-roosting aggregations or group
vocalizing; such codes provide organisms with information on population size in a region so that they can, if
necessary, exercise reproductive restraint. However, Wynne-Edwards’ theory, linking animal social behavior
and population control, has been challenged, with some justification, by several studies.
 VARC 100: RC#6
While an understanding of the processes which regulate the abundance of animal populations is 3. According to the Wynne-Edwards theory as it is described in the
T fundamentally important both to applied biology and to ecology in general, it is a subject on which there are passage, epideictic behavior displays serve the function of
very considerable divergences of opinion. These divergences, which have been so much discussed during the (A) determining roosting aggregations
H past two or three decades, may be attributed to a number of causes: to the common tendency to embrace (B) group vocalizing
partial, one-sided explanations instead of seeking a comprehensive viewpoint; to the diverse views
E engendered by the study of ecologically different groups of animals, or by a too exclusive attention to either
(C) regulating sexual activity
(D) regulating roosting aggregations, group vocalizing and sexual
the biotic or the physical aspects of ecology; and, besides these outcomes of specialization, to confusion and
misunderstanding over the use of certain terms. activity
V The departure point, the point of agreement, is that although numbers of animals in a given region may 4. The primary purpose of the passage is to
E fluctuate from year to year, the fluctuations are often temporary and, over long periods, trivial. Basis this,
scientists have advanced three theories of population control to account for this relative constancy.
(A) argue against those scientists who maintain that animal
populations tend to fluctuate
R The first theory attributes a relatively constant population to periodic climatic catastrophes that decimate (B) compare and contrast the density-dependent and epideictic
populations with such frequency as to prevent them from exceeding some particular limit. In the case of small theories of population control
B organisms with short life cycles, climatic changes need not be catastrophic: normal seasonal changes in (C) summarize a number of scientific theories that attempt to
photoperiod (daily amount of sunlight), for example, can govern population growth. This theory—the density-
A independent view—asserts that climatic factors exert the same regulatory effect on population regardless of
explain why animal populations do not exceed certain limits
(D) deplore the inadequacies of existing theories that attempt to
the number of individuals in a region.
L explain mechanisms of population regulation in animals
A second theory argues that population growth is primarily density-dependent—that is, the rate of growth of a
population in a region decreases as the number of animals increases. The mechanisms that manage regulation
M may vary. For example, as numbers increase, the food supply would probably diminish, which would increase
mortality. In addition, as Lotka and Volterra have shown, predators can find prey more easily in high-density
E populations. Other regulators include physiological control mechanisms: for example, Christian and Davis have
demonstrated how the crowding that results from a rise in numbers may bring about hormonal changes in the
N pituitary and adrenal glands that in turn may regulate population by lowering sexual activity and inhibiting
sexual maturation. There is evidence that these effects may persist for three generations in the absence of the
T original provocation. One challenge for density-dependent theorists is to develop models that would allow the
O precise prediction of the effects of crowding.

R A third theory, proposed by Wynne-Edwards and termed “epideictic,” argues that organisms have evolved a
“code” in the form of social or epideictic behavior displays, such as winter-roosting aggregations or group
vocalizing; such codes provide organisms with information on population size in a region so that they can, if
necessary, exercise reproductive restraint. However, Wynne-Edwards’ theory, linking animal social behavior
and population control, has been challenged, with some justification, by several studies.
 VARC 100: RC#6
While an understanding of the processes which regulate the abundance of animal populations is 5. Which of the following statements would provide the most of
T fundamentally important both to applied biology and to ecology in general, it is a subject on which there are logical continuation of the final paragraph of the passage?
very considerable divergences of opinion. These divergences, which have been so much discussed during the (A) Thus Wynne-Edwards’ theory raises serious questions about
H past two or three decades, may be attributed to a number of causes: to the common tendency to embrace the constancy of animal population in a region.
partial, one-sided explanations instead of seeking a comprehensive viewpoint; to the diverse views
E engendered by the study of ecologically different groups of animals, or by a too exclusive attention to either
(B) Because Wynne-Edwards’ theory is able to explain more kinds
of animal behavior than is the density-dependent theory,
the biotic or the physical aspects of ecology; and, besides these outcomes of specialization, to confusion and
misunderstanding over the use of certain terms. epideictic explanations of population regulation are now widely
accepted.
V The departure point, the point of agreement, is that although numbers of animals in a given region may (C) The results of one study, for instance, have suggested that
E fluctuate from year to year, the fluctuations are often temporary and, over long periods, trivial. Basis this,
scientists have advanced three theories of population control to account for this relative constancy.
group vocalizing is more often used to defend territory than to
provide information about population density.
R The first theory attributes a relatively constant population to periodic climatic catastrophes that decimate (D) Some of these studies have, in fact, worked out a systematic
populations with such frequency as to prevent them from exceeding some particular limit. In the case of small and complex code of social behavior that can regulate population
B organisms with short life cycles, climatic changes need not be catastrophic: normal seasonal changes in size.
photoperiod (daily amount of sunlight), for example, can govern population growth. This theory—the density-
A independent view—asserts that climatic factors exert the same regulatory effect on population regardless of
the number of individuals in a region.
L
A second theory argues that population growth is primarily density-dependent—that is, the rate of growth of a
population in a region decreases as the number of animals increases. The mechanisms that manage regulation
M may vary. For example, as numbers increase, the food supply would probably diminish, which would increase
mortality. In addition, as Lotka and Volterra have shown, predators can find prey more easily in high-density
E populations. Other regulators include physiological control mechanisms: for example, Christian and Davis have
demonstrated how the crowding that results from a rise in numbers may bring about hormonal changes in the
N pituitary and adrenal glands that in turn may regulate population by lowering sexual activity and inhibiting
sexual maturation. There is evidence that these effects may persist for three generations in the absence of the
T original provocation. One challenge for density-dependent theorists is to develop models that would allow the
O precise prediction of the effects of crowding.

R A third theory, proposed by Wynne-Edwards and termed “epideictic,” argues that organisms have evolved a
“code” in the form of social or epideictic behavior displays, such as winter-roosting aggregations or group
vocalizing; such codes provide organisms with information on population size in a region so that they can, if
necessary, exercise reproductive restraint. However, Wynne-Edwards’ theory, linking animal social behavior
and population control, has been challenged, with some justification, by several studies.