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AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Survivorship Curves

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 9 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 9

What is the primary function of a survivorship curve?

All Questions (9)

What is the primary function of a survivorship curve?

A) To display the relative survival rates of a cohort over time.

B) To measure the total reproductive output of a population.

C) To determine the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.

D) To track the migration patterns of different species.

Correct Answer: A

The provided text explicitly states that a survivorship curve is a line that 'displays the relative survival rates of a cohort... from birth to the maximum age.'

In the context of constructing a survivorship curve, what is a 'cohort'?

A) The total number of species in an environment.

B) A group of individuals of the same age.

C) All individuals of a species that are reproductively mature.

D) A species that follows a Type II survival pattern.

Correct Answer: B

The content defines a cohort as 'a group of individuals of the same age' whose survival rates are tracked to create the curve.

According to the text, a K-selected species would most likely follow which type(s) of survivorship curve?

A) Only Type III

B) Only Type I

C) Type I or Type II

D) Type II or Type III

Correct Answer: C

The text states that 'K-selected species typically following a Type I or Type II curve.'

Based on the provided information, a species that follows a Type III survivorship curve is most likely what kind of species?

A) A K-selected species

B) An r-selected species

C) A species with a long lifespan

D) A species that is a member of a cohort

Correct Answer: B

The content directly links r-selected species with the Type III curve, stating 'r-selected species following a Type III curve.'

Which of the following are the three types of survivorship curves mentioned in the text?

A) Type A, Type B, Type C

B) K-selected, r-selected, and Cohort

C) Type I, Type II, and Type III

D) Logarithmic, Exponential, and Linear

Correct Answer: C

The text explicitly lists the three curve types: 'There are Type I, Type II, and Type III curves.'

A biologist determines that a newly discovered organism is an r-selected species. Based on this finding, which survivorship curve would the organism be LEAST likely to follow?

A) Type I

B) Type III

C) A curve representing low early-life survival

D) The curve typical for its life history strategy

Correct Answer: A

The text states that r-selected species follow a Type III curve, while K-selected species follow Type I or II. Therefore, an r-selected species would be least likely to follow a Type I curve.

What is the relationship between survivorship curves and the life history strategies of species as described in the text?

A) There is no relationship between the two concepts.

B) All species, regardless of strategy, follow a Type II curve.

C) Survivorship curves differ, with K-selected and r-selected species generally following different curve types.

D) Only K-selected species can be represented by a survivorship curve.

Correct Answer: C

The text establishes a direct link: 'Survivorship curves differ for K-selected and r-selected species,' and then specifies which curves correspond to each strategy.

A survivorship curve for a population is created by tracking the survival rates of what specific group?

A) A group of individuals of the same age from birth to maximum age.

B) All individuals in a population at a single point in time.

C) Only the r-selected individuals within a mixed population.

D) The oldest members of a population over one year.

Correct Answer: A

This question synthesizes two points from the text: a curve tracks a 'cohort' and a cohort is a 'group of individuals of the same age... from birth to the maximum age.'

Given the information, if a population's survivorship curve is NOT Type III, what can be inferred about its life history strategy?

A) It is definitively an r-selected species.

B) It is likely a K-selected species.

C) It cannot be classified as either K-selected or r-selected.

D) It must follow a Type II curve exclusively.

Correct Answer: B

The text links Type III curves to r-selected species. If a species does not follow a Type III curve, it is likely following a Type I or Type II curve, which the text associates with K-selected species.