ALBERIO

Population Ecology - Decline is experiences when decrease in population are

greater than increases.
- is the study of populations in relation to environment
Key factors for study includes:
- including the environmental influences on population
density and distribution, age structure, and variations in  Population growth rate- the change in the total
population size. population size per unit of time.
 Natality (birth rate) - the number of individuals
Population- a group of individual of the same species of born per unit time.
organisms that occupy the same area, using the same
 Mortality (death rate) – the number of
resources and acted upon by the same environmental
individuals dying per unit time.
factors.
 Migration- the number moving into or out of the
Demography- is the statistical study of populations, allows population.
predictions to be made about how a population will
Migration- is the movement of organisms into
change in future.
(immigration) and out of (emigration) a population.
Features of population
-Populations lose individuals through deaths and
- Population are dynamic and exhibit attributes that are emigration.
not shown by the individuals themselves.
-Population gain individuals through birth and
Attributes can be measured or calculated and include: immigration.

 Population size- the total number of organisms - Net Migration= Immigration- Emigration
in the population.
Characteristics of Dynamics
 Population density- the number of organisms
per unit area.  Size
 Population distribution- the location of  Density
individuals within a specific area.  Dispersal
 Immigration
- Population composition provides information relevant to
 Emigration
the dynamics of the population is, i.e. whether the
 Births
population is increasing or declining.
 Deaths
Information on population composition includes:  Survivorship

 Sex ratios- the number of organisms of each sex. 3 factors that affect population size:
 Fecundity (fertility) - the reproductive capacity
 Number of Births
of the females.
 Number of Deaths
 Age structure- the number of organisms of
 Number of individuals that enter or leave
different ages.
population
Population Dynamics
Population Density- the number of individuals per unit
-the study of changes in the size and composition of area or volume is termed population density.
populations and the factors influencing.
 At low population densities, individuals are
-Study of how and why population changes in size and spaced well apart.
structure over time.  At high population densities, individuals are
crowded together.
-Study the factors affecting growth, stability and decline of
populations. (Birth rate, mortality, survivorship, migration) Number of Individuals
Population Density =
All populations undergo 3 phases in life cycle: units of area
Population Growth- occurs when available resources Dispersion
exceed the number of individuals able to exploit them.
Population Distribution
 Reproduction is rapid
- describes how the individuals are distributed, or spread
 Death rate are low throughout their habitat.
 Immigration occurs
 Individuals in a population may be distributed
-Growth is experience when rapid reproduction, randomly, uniformly, or in clumps.
immigration and low death rates combine to produce a net
increase in the population size. Random Distribution

Population Stability -individuals are spaced at unpredictable distances from

each other, as seen among plants that have wind-
-is represented when a population is not experiencing dispersed seeds.
rapid growth or great decreases over long periods of time.
Random distributions are not common; they occur only
- Stability is experienced when fluctuations in populations where:
stay within an average count range despite minor
disturbances over long periods of time.  The environment is uniformed and resources are
equally available throughout the year.
Population Decline
 There are no interaction between individuals or
-Decline is the decrease in the number of individuals in a interactions produce no patterns of avoidance or
population, and eventually leads to population extinction. attraction.
ALBERIO

 Density Independent Factor- factors on a

population growth is not dependent on the
Uniform Distribution population’s density:
- occur where individuals are more evenly spaced then Physical (or biotic) factors:
would occur by chance. 1. Temperature
2. Precipitation
- Regular patterns of distribution result from intraspecific 3. Humidity
competition amongst members of a population: 4. Acidity
5. Salinity
 Territoriality in a relatively homogenous
environment. Catastrophic events:
 Competition for root and crown space in forest
trees or moisture in desert and savanna plants. 1. Floods and tsunamis
2. Fire
 Autotoxicity: chemical inhibition of plant
3. Drought
seedlings of the same species.
4. Earthquake and eruption
Clumped Distribution
Exponential Growth
-are the most common in nature; individuals are clustered
-a function that shows an increase within a population that
together in group.
occurs at the same rate over time.
- Clumped distribution result from the responses of plants
- The larger the population grows, the faster it grows.
and animals to:

 Habitat differences N t = N 0 e rt
 Daily and seasonal changes in weather and
environment
 Reproductive pattern
 Social Behavior.

Population Growth

- depends on the number of individuals added to the

population from births immigration, minus the number
lost through deaths and emigration.

Population Growth= (Birth- Deaths) + (Immigration-

Emigration)

 Net migration is the difference between

immigration and emigration.
 Mortality (death rate) - the number of
individuals dying per unit time.

Mortality Rate=
(total number of deaths)
(total number of species at risk )(unit of time )
Limiting Factors

Environment factors that restrict the growth of population

are:

 Density Dependent Factor- exert a greater effect

on population growth at higher population
densities.
At high densities, individuals:
1. Compete more for resources
2. Are more vulnerable to infection and
disease
3. Are more easily located by predators
and parasites

- Density dependent factors are biotic factors

such as food supply, disease, parasite infestation,
competition, and predation.