Population
Dynamics
Presentation by John Viel M. Casila
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Population
Population is all the organisms of the same species that live in a particular geographical area.
population density - refers to the number of individuals of a species per unit area or unit volume
of a habitat.
population dispersion - refers to the pattern of dispersal of individuals across an area of
interest
Demography is the statistical study of a population, such as its density, its distribution, and its
rate of growth. Demography is dependent on mortality pattern and age distribution.
Factors that Affect
Population Size
Birth rate is the number of individuals produced per unit time.
• Births and migration into the population increase population size.
Death rate is the number of deaths per unit time.
• Deaths and migrations out of the population decrease the population size.
Survivorship curves show the probability of dying at a given age
Survivorship curves
follow predictable
patterns:
• Type I - species that invest much energy caring for young have low
death rates early in life. Most individuals survive to reproduce.
• Type II - species have an approximately equal probability of dying
at any age.
• Type III - Species that invest little energy raising their young have
high death rates among offspring. Few individuals survive to
reproductive age.
Age structure (distribution of age classes) aids in determining if a
population is growing, stable, or declining.
Population and
Natural Selection
Thomas Malthus' writing, “An Essay on the Principle of Population” was
one of Charles Darwin's inspiration when he thought of “Natural
Selection”. Mathus' essay theorized that populations grow in geometric
progression while food production grow in arithmetic progression. This
meant that populations grow faster than food supply, eventually leading
to food shortage. This led Darwin to think that since the “supply” was low,
but the demand was high, organisms may try to compete for resource,
and thus the early beginnings of Natural Selection
Opportunistic vs. Equilibrium Species
Opportunistic species tend to show exponential
growth. They are typically small organisms that
reproduce at an early age, have short life spans, and
have many offspring that receive little parental care.
• Weeds, insects, and many species with type III
survivorship curves have opportunistic life histories.
Equilibrium species tend to show logistic growth. Their
population size is near the carrying capacity. They
typically reach their reproductive age slower than
opportunistic species, have longer lives, and have
received extended parental care.
• Birds, large mammals, and species with type I or type II
survivorship curves are often equilibrium species
Exponential
Growth
Exponential Growth The pattern of population growth depends upon two primary factors:
• The biotic potential; and • Resource availability.
Exponential Growth: Limitation • Carrying capacity - the maximum number of individuals
that the habitat can support indefinitely • Exponential growth cannot continue indefinitely
when resources are limited (and other factors influencing death and birth rate), then
population growth levels off. These populations follow a logistic, or S-shaped, growth
model. As the population size approaches the carrying capacity, the growth rate slows.
Factors that Regulate
Population Size
Density-dependent Factors • The effects of density-dependent factors increase as the population density
rises. • They result from interactions between organisms. o competing among each other for space, nutrients,
food, or mates o spread of disease is easier with higher population density and the risk of predation
Density-independent Factors
• Density-independent factors exert effects that are unrelated to population density. o Natural disasters, such
as this fire, might eliminate population in an area without regard to population density.
The Human Population
The growth of any population, including humans, is determined by the
difference between birth rates and death rates.
Much of the current growth in the human population is due to high birth rates
and low death rates in less-developed countries. The low birth rate in more-
developed countries may be attributed to family planning programs.
Variation of Birth and Death rates Worldwide
• Increase in population - countries with more individuals below reproductive
age than are in their reproductive years.
• Decrease in birth rates - tend to decline as economic development
progresses because of family planning programs and opportunities for women
outside of the home
Population growth depends upon the reproductive characteristics of the population:
• The number of offspring per reproduction • Frequency of reproduction
• Chances of survival until reproductive age • Age at which reproduction begins
Will human population continue to grow exponentially? There are two causes of overpopulation:
• Population size • Resource consumption
The probability that a species will become extinct depends upon three primary factors:
• Size of Geographic Range • Degree of Habitat Tolerance
• Size of Local Populations
