V.C.E. Biology Unit 2V.C.E. Biology Unit 2

Population DynamicsPopulation Dynamics

Managing PopulationsManaging Populations

• Humans have stepped out of the natural ecosystem and are in a position use natural resources at their will.

• However, it is important that our management of populations is Sustainable

• This relies on knowledge of the Distribution, Abundance and breeding behaviours of each species.

Population SizePopulation Size

• Population size is controlled by four things:– Birth– Death– Immigration– Emmigration

• Limiting Factors – a feature of the ecosystem that a species must have supplied in a particular amount, and the Carrying Capacity of the ecosystem (the maximum population of a species a location can sustain) also control population numbers.

• However, populations do explode and can cause vast changes to an ecosystem.

New speciesNew species

• The introduction of new species of plants and animals into an ecosystem can cause major problems if there are no limiting factors or natural predators, as we have seen – think:– Rabbit– Cane Toad– Camel– Foxes– Prickly Pear– Boneseed