1. Population Ecology
CHAPTER 9 NOTES
APES
Ms. Miller

2. Key Concepts Factors affecting population size
Species reproductive patterns
Species survivorship patterns
Conservation biology and human impacts on ecosystems

3. Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Population dynamics—study of how populations change in size, density, and age distribution
Biotic potential--a populations capacity for growth (intrinsic rate of increase [r])—rate of growth with unlimited resources
Environmental resistance—all factors that limit the growth of a population
Carrying capacity (K)—maximum number of individuals of a given species that can be sustained indefinitely in a given area
Exponential and Logistic Growth—two models of growth (J curve vs. S curve)
Population Density—number of individuals in a given area

4. J-Curve

5. S Curve

6. Exponential and Logistic Growth

7. Population Dispersion
Fig. 9-2 p. 164

8. Factors Affecting Population Size
Fig. 9-3 p. 166

9. Population Density Effects
Density-independent controls—affect a population’s size regardless of its density (climate, fire, natural disasters, meteor impacts, unseasonable weather, deforestation, etc)
Density-dependent controls—affect population size/growth as plate job population density increases (competition, predation, parasitism, disease transmission)

10. Natural Population Curves
Fig. 9-7 p. 168

11. The Role of Predation in Controlling Population Size
Predator-prey cycles
Top-down control vs. Bottom-up control
Fig. 9-8 p. 168

12. Reproductive Patterns and Survival
Asexual reproduction
r-selected species
Sexual reproduction
K-selected species
Fig p. 170

13. Survivorship Curves
Fig p. 171

14. Human Impacts on Ecosystems
Habitat degradation and fragmentation
Ecosystem simplification
Genetic resistance
Predator elimination
Introduction of non-native species
Overharvesting renewable resources
Interference with ecological systems

15. Learning from Nature
Dependence on Nature—we need the earth but the earth does not need us
Interdependence—all organisms on earth are dependent on one another
Unpredictability—things we do have unexpected or unintended side effects
Limited resources –we continue to deplete and degrade the Earth’s natural capital
Recycle wastes—we must find ways to use waste for energy