Chapter 46 --- Ecology of Populations
46.1 Scope of Ecology
Ecology: the study of interactions of organisms with other organisms and with the physical environment (word means "study of house")
Population:
members of the same species living in the same area
Community: all the different populations in an area
Ecosystem: the community plus the nonliving factors
Biosphere: all the areas of the earth that supports life
46.2 Demography - the statistical study of a population (density, distribution, rate of growth)
Population
density: number of individuals per unit area
Population distribution: pattern of disperal of individuals (random, clumped,
uniform)
How Populations Grow
Factors the determine how much a population will change
1. births
2. deaths
3. migration
Stable populations
occur when as many individuals join (birth or immigration) as leave (death or
emigration)
Population change (r) = (birth - deaths) + (immigrants - emigrants)
Biotic Potential: maximum rate at which a population could grow given optimal conditions (food, water, space)
Factors that influence biotic potential:
1. age of reproduction
2. frequence of reproduction
3. number of offspring produced
4. reproductive life span
5. average death rate under ideal conditions
Survivorship curve
Late Loss (Type I)
Constant loss (Type II) - death is often unrelated to age
Early loss (Type III)
Age Structure Diagrams
46.3 Population Growth Models
Discrete Breeding: Reproduction
occurs once in life (followed by death)
Continuous Breeding: occurs throughout lifetime
Exponential vs Logistic Growth
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J-shaped curve showing exponential growth of a population
Lag Phase then Exponential Growth This population has not yet reached its carrying capacity. Requires unlimited resources
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S-shaped curve shows how a population becomes limitied by environmental factors
Lag Phase, exp growth phase, Deceleration, Stable Equilibrium Phase Carrying Capacity: the maximum size of a population that an area can support |
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Growth rate (r) = birth rate (b) - death rate (d) Population growth = rN (r = growth rate, N = original population size) |
Zero Population Growth - same number enters as leaves the population
46.4 Regulation of Population Size
Density Independent Factors: weather and other natural disasters
Density Dependent Factors: food, space, water, parasitism, competition
46.5 Life History Patterns
K-strategists - small numbers of offspring, usually parental care (Kangaroo)
R-strategists - large numbers of offspring, no care, low survivability (Roaches)
46.6 Human Population Growth
Current World Population: 6.6 billion (and growing)
Is this population sustainable?
Compare age structure pyramids of more-developed countries to less-developed countries
What impact does the human population have on the environment? On human social structures?
Should countries strive for Zero Population Growth?
