POPULATIONS AND HOW THEY GROW

• Biosphere

• Ecosystems

• Community

• Population

ECOSYSTEM LEVELEucalyptus forest

COMMUNITY LEVELAll organisms ineucalyptus forest

POPULATION LEVELGroup of flying foxes

ORGANISM LEVELFlying fox

ORGAN SYSTEM LEVELNervous system

ORGAN LEVELBrain

Brain Spinal cord

Nerve

TISSUE LEVELNervous

tissue

CELLULAR LEVELNerve cell

MOLECULAR LEVELMolecule of DNA

Figure 1.1

POPULATIONS Population-all of the individuals of a

species that live together in one place at one time.

Demography-the statistical study of populations. It is used to predict how the size of a population will change.

COUNTING POPULATIONS

direct observation-count indirect observation-estimate sampling-count small number in a small area and multiply to get the number in the large area mark and recapture studies-capture, mark, release

mark-recapture method depends on likelihood of recapturing the same individual

Figure 35.2A

KEY FEATURES OF POPULATIONS

1. Population size is the number of individuals in a population. had an important effect on the ability of the

population to survive.

A small population is more likely to become extinct: in the case of random events or natural

disaster due to inbreeding where the population is

more genetically alike. with reduced variability it is harder to adapt

to changes.

KEY FEATURES OF POPULATIONS, CON’T

2. Population density

– the number of individuals in a given area.

– if they are too far apart they may only rarely encounter one another resulting in little reproduction.

KEY FEATURES OF POPULATIONS, CON’TPOPULATION SIZE IS LIMITED BY:

density-dependent factors

Disease Competition Predators Parasites Food Crowding

The greater the population, the greater effect these factors have.

Ex. Black plague in the Middle Ages – more deaths in cities

density-independent factors

Volcanic eruptions Temperature Storms Floods Drought Chemical pesticides Major habitat disruption

(as in the New Orleans flooding)

Most are abiotic factors

KEY FEATURES OF POPULATIONS, CON’T

3. Dispersion – the way in which the individuals are

arranged.

Most common

POPULATION GROWTH

Population Growth Three factors can affect population size:

number of births (natality) the number of deaths (mortality) the number of individuals that enter or

leave the population (immigration and emigration).

* Simply put, a population will increase or decrease in size depending on how many individuals are added to it or removed from it

IMMIGRATION & EMMIGRATION Immigration

the movement of individuals into an area, is another factor that can cause a population to grow.

Emigration the movement of individuals out of an area, can cause a

population to decrease in size.

PREDICTING POPULATION GROWTH, CON’T Nearly all populations will tend to grow

exponentially as long as there are resources available.

Two of the most basic factors that affect the rate of population growth are the birth rate, and the death rate.

r(rate of growth)=birth rate – death rate

PREDICTING POPULATION GROWTH, CON’T

Exponential growth curve: population growth plotted against time.

As a population gets larger, it also grows at a faster rate.

Maximum population growth under ideal circumstances.

Includes plenty of room, unlimited resources (food, water) and no predators. FACT: No population exhibits this type of growth for long.

PREDICTING POPULATION GROWTH, CON’T Logistic model: This model accounts for the declining

resources available to populations as they grow. It assumes the birth and death rates are not

constant. As the population grows, births decline and death

rises. Eventually birth=death so the population stops

growing.

Carrying capacity (K): The number of organisms of one species that an environment can support indefinitely.

PREDICTING POPULATION GROWTH, CON’T TWO MODES OF POPULATION GROWTH.

The Exponential curve (also known as a J-curve) occurs when there is no limit to population size.

The Logistic curve (also known as an S-curve) shows the effect of a limiting factor (in this case the carrying capacity of the environment).

POPULATION GROWTH STRATEGIES

There are 2 ways a population can prosper:

1. Depends on the rate of growth (r)2. Influenced by the carrying capacity

(K)

POPULATION GROWTH STRATEGIES, CON’T

r-strategists: “boom and crash” characterized by exponential growth, which results in temporarily large populations, followed by sudden crashes in population size. Ex. Insects, bacteria, some plants live in unpredictable and rapidly changing

environments Reproduce quickly when conditions are favorable Many offspring: small, mature rapidly, no parental care r = rate of growth

POPULATION GROWTH STRATEGIES, CON’T

K-strategists: characterized by a high degree of specialization. Ex. Trees, whales, tigers, etc. Live in stable and

predictable environments Can compete effectively Reproduce late in life Few offspring: large, mature slowly, often much parental care K = carrying capacity

POPULATION GROWTH STRATEGIES, CON’T Human Populations: K- strategist characteristics But, recently, humans learned to expand carrying capacity of

environment by increasing food supply, combating pests and curing diseases.

Can Earth support this increase?

doubled three times in the last three centuries

about 7 billion and may reach 9.3 billion by the year 2050

improved health and technology have lowered death rates

THE HUMAN POPULATION

The history of human population growth

Figure 35.8A

Figure 2.10x

Will Earth Sustain All Life?