V.C.E. Biology Unit 2 Population Dynamics

Managing 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 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 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