1. Population Dynamics AP Environmental Science

2. Population Dynamics Outline
Characteristics of a Population
Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Reproductive Strategies
Conservation Biology
Human Impacts
Working with Nature

3. Characteristics of a Population
Population - individuals inhabiting the same area at the same time
Population Dynamics: Population change due to
Population Size - number of individuals
Population Density - population size in a certain space at a given time
Population Dispersion - spatial pattern in habitat
Age Structure - proportion of individuals in each age group in population

4. Population Size Natality Mortality
Number of individuals added through reproduction
Crude Birth Rate - Births per 1000
Total Fertility Rate – Average number of children born alive per woman in her lifetime
Mortality
Number of individuals removed through death
Crude Death Rate Deaths per 1000

5. Population Density
Population Density (or ecological population density) is the amount of individuals in a population per unit habitat area
Some species exist in high densities - Mice
Some species exist in low densities - Mountain lions
Density depends upon:
social/population structure
mating relationships
time of year

6. Population Dispersion
Population dispersion is the spatial pattern of distribution
There are three main classifications
Clumped: individuals are
lumped into groups
ex. Flocking birds or
herbivore herds due to
resources that are clumped
or social interactions
most common

7. Population Dispersion
Uniform: Individuals are regularly spaced in the environment - ex. Creosote bush due to antagonism between individuals.
Random: Individuals are randomly dispersed in the environment ex. Dandelions due to random distribution of resources in the environment, and neither positive nor negative interaction between individuals rare because these conditions are rarely met
tips/2002/clover611.htm

8. Age Structure
The age structure of a population is usually shown graphically
The population is usually divided up into prereproductives, reproductives and postreproductives
The age structure of a population dictates whether is will grow, shrink, or stay the same size

9. Age Structure Diagrams
Positive Growth Zero Growth Negative Growth
(ZPG)
Pyramid Shape Vertical Edges Inverted Pyramid

10. Population Dynamics Outline
Characteristics of a Population
Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Reproductive Strategies
Conservation Biology
Human Impacts
Working with Nature

11. Biotic Potential
Ability of populations of a given species to increase in size
Abiotic Contributing Factors:
Favorable light
Favorable Temperatures
Favorable chemical environment - nutrients
Biotic Contributing Factors:
Reproductive rate
Generalized niche
Ability to migrate or disperse
Adequate defense mechanisms
Ability to cope with adverse conditions

12. Environmental Resistance
Ability of populations of a given species to increase in size
Abiotic Contributing Factors:
Unfavorable light
Unfavorable Temperatures
Unfavorable chemical environment - nutrients
Biotic Contributing Factors:
Low reproductive rate
Specialized niche
Inability to migrate or disperse
Inadequate defense mechanisms
Inability to cope with adverse conditions

13. Environmental Resistance
Biotic Potential
factors allow a population to increase under ideal conditions, potentially leading to exponential growth
Environmental Resistance
affect the young more than the elderly in a population, thereby affecting recruitment (survival to reproductive age)

15. Population Growth Population growth depends upon
birth rates
death rates
immigration rates (into area)
emigration rates (exit area)
Pop = Pop0 + (b + i) - (d + e)
ZPG
(b + i) = (d + e)

16. Population Growth Populations show two types of growth Exponential
J-shaped curve
Growth is independent of population density
Logistic
S-shaped curve
Growth is not independent of population density

17. Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Basic Concept: Over a long period of time, populations of species in an ecosystem are usually in a state of equilibrium (balance between births and deaths)
There is a dynamic balance between biotic potential and environmental resistance

18. Carrying Capacity (K)
Exponential curve is not realistic due to carrying capacity of area
Carrying capacity - maximum number of individuals a habitat can support over a given period of time due to environmental resistance (sustainability)

20. Logistic Growth
Because of Environmental Resistance, population growth decreases as density reaches carrying capacity
Graph of individuals vs. time yields a sigmoid or S-curved growth curve
Reproductive time lag causes population overshoot
Population will not be steady curve due to resources (prey) and predators

23. Density-Dependent Controls
Competition for resources
Predation
Parasitism
Disease
Poisoning

24. Density-Independent Controls
Natural disasters
Severe weather

25. Population Dynamics Outline
Characteristics of a Population
Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Reproductive Strategies
Conservation Biology
Human Impacts
Working with Nature

26. Reproductive Strategies
Goal of every species is to produce as many offspring as possible!
Each individual has a limited amount of energy to put towards life and reproduction
This leads to a trade-off of long life or high reproductive rate
Natural Selection has lead to two strategies for species: r - strategists and K - strategists

27. r - Strategists Spend most of their time in exponential growth
Maximize reproductive life
Minimum life K

28. R Strategists Many small offspring
Little or no parental care and protection of offspring
Early reproductive age
Most offspring die before reaching reproductive age
Small adults
Adapted to unstable climate and environmental conditions
High population growth rate – (r)
Population size fluctuates wildly above and below carrying capacity – (K)
Generalist niche
Low ability to compete
Early successional species

29. K - Strategists Maintain population at carrying capacity (K)
Maximize lifespan K

30. K- Strategist Fewer, larger offspring
High parental care and protection of offspring
Later reproductive age
Most offspring survive to reproductive age
Larger adults
Adapted to stable climate and environmental conditions
Lower population growth rate (r)
Population size fairly stable and usually close to carrying capacity (K)
Specialist niche
High ability to compete
Late successional species

31. Survivorship Curves
Late Loss: K-strategists that produce few young and care for them until they reach reproductive age thus reducing juvenile mortality
Constant Loss: typically intermediate reproductive strategies with fairly constant mortality throughout all age classes
Early Loss: r-strategists with many offspring, high infant mortality and high survivorship once a certain size and age

33. Population Dynamics Outline
Characteristics of a Population
Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Reproductive Strategies
Conservation Biology
Human Impacts
Working with Nature

34. Conservation Biology
Careful and sensible use of natural resources by humans
Originated in 1970s to deal with problems in maintaining earth's biodiversity
Dedicated to protecting ecosystems and to finding practical ways to prevent premature extinctions of species

35. Conservation Biology 3 Principles:
Biodiversity and ecological integrity are useful and necessary to all life on earth and should not be reduced by human actions.
Humans should not cause or hasten the premature extinction of populations and species or disrupt vital ecological processes.
Best way to preserve earth’s biodiversity and ecological integrity is to protect intact ecosystems that provide sufficient habitat

36. Habitat Fragmentation
Process by which human activity breaks natural ecosystems into smaller and smaller pieces of land
Greatest impact on populations of species that require large areas of continuous habitat
Also called habitat islands

37. Habitat fragmentation in northern Alberta
Habitat fragmentation in northern Alberta

38. Population Dynamics Outline
Characteristics of a Population
Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Reproductive Strategies
Conservation Biology
Human Impacts
Working with Nature

39. Human Impacts Fragmentation and degrading habitat
Simplifying/ homogenizing natural ecosystems (1 crop)
Strengthening some populations of pest species and disease-causing bacteria by overuse of pesticides
Elimination of some predators (sharks)

40. Human Impacts (continued)
Deliberately or accidentally introducing new species (exotic)
Overharvesting potentially renewable resources (farmland, fish)
Interfering with the normal chemical cycling and energy flows in ecosystem (excessive CO2 emissions)

41. Population Dynamics Outline
Characteristics of a Population
Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Reproductive Strategies
Conservation Biology
Human Impacts
Working with Nature

42. Working with Nature (Sustainability)
To maintain a balance between our altered environments and natural environments, we need to learn 6 features of nature.
Interdependence
Diversity
Resilience
Adaptability
Unpredictability
Limits

43. Basic Ecological Lessons
Sunlight is primary source of energy
Nutrients are replenished and wastes are disposed of by recycling materials
Soil, water, air, plants and animals are renewed through natural processes
Energy is always required to produce or maintain an energy flow or to recycle chemicals

44. Basic Ecological Lessons (continued)
Biodiversity takes many forms because it has evolved over billions of years under different conditions
Complex networks of + and – feedback loops exist
Population size and growth rate are controlled by interactions with other species and with abiotic factors.
Organisms generally only use what they need.

45. 4 Principles for Sustainability (Message of the book and this class! )
We are part of, not apart from, the earth’s dynamic web of life.
Our lives, lifestyles, and economies are totally dependent on the sun and the earth.
We can never do merely one thing (first law of human ecology – Garret Hardin).
Everything is connected to everything else; we are all in it together.