CHAPTER 12

Quantitative ecology

Quantitative ecology
Outline Population ecology Population dispersion Biotic potential Factors influencing population growth Life history patterns

Population ecology
population consists of the individuals of a species that occur together at one place at one time three important aspects of population i. the range throughout which a population occurs ii. dispersion of individuals within that range iii. size of the population attains Population distributions most species have relatively limited geographic range

Population dispersion
Randomly spaced not common in nature individuals do not interact strongly one another Uniformly spaced always results from competition for resources in animals, it occurs because individuals tend to defend their territories which provide them resources among plants, results of competition for the sunlight, nutrients or water

Population dispersion

Biotic potential
to understand populations, we must consider how they grow and factors in nature limit population growth The exponential growth model the actual rate of population increase r = (b-d) + (i-e) r = difference between the birthrate (b) and death rate (d)
e = movement out of area and i = movement into area

movement of individuals have a major impact on population growth rates

Biotic potential
biotic potential = rate at which a population of a given species will increases when no limits are placed on its rate of growth dN/dt = riN , N = num. of individuals in population,
dN/dt = rate of change in its num. over time ri = innate capacity for growth

innate capacity of growth of any population is exponential

Biotic potential
Carrying capacity how rapidly population grows, they will reach limit imposed by several factors such as space, light, water.. carrying capacity, K = maximum number of individuals that environment can support

Biotic potential
Logistic growth model as population reaches its carrying capacity, its rate of growth slows greatly because lack of resources dN/dt = rN(K-N/K) as N increases, the fraction by r is multiplied becomes smaller, and the rate population increases decline in many cases, real population display trends corresponding to a logistic growth curve

Models of population growth

Population growth is limited by the environment

population dynamics - study of factors that affect growth, stability and decline of population known population undergo three distinct phase i. growth ii. stability iii. decline population growth occurs when resources exceed the number of individuals able to use them reproduction is rapid and death rates are low, increase in population size

Population growth is limited by the environment

population stability is always the longest phase, growing population outstrips its available resources, decline occurs because decrease in the individuals number in a population, lead to extinction Factors influencing population growth as long resources available, almost all populations will ten to grow exponential affect by birth rate and death rate intrinsic rate = birth rate death rate

The influence of population density

density-dependent = population size affect population growth rate when population approach their carrying capacity, competition can be severe, increased risk of mortality and decrease birthrate predators tend to focus on particularly common prey, increased rates of mortality as population increase high population led to accumulation of toxic wastes behavioral changes also affect population growth rates, results from hormonal actions

The influence of population density

crowded populations may led to decreased in population growth rate because of emigration factor in some cases, growth rate increase with increase population size (Allee effect) individuals are difficult finding mates in population that are too sparsely distributed, some species rely on large groups to deter predator

The influence of population density

Density-independent effects rate of growth of a population at any instant is limited by something other that the size of population factors such as extremely cold winter, drought, storms, volcanic eruptions may affects populations when such events occurs, population extremely decrease and will increase rapidly when environment back to normal

The influence of population density

Survivorship curves survivorship is defined as the percentage of an original population that survives to a given age Type I - flat at early and middle life and drops suddenly as death rate increases among the elderly - associated with species such as humans and other large mammals that produce few offspring that are well cared for. Type II - intermediate, mortality more constant over life spans, can be seen in Hydra and the grey squirrels

The influence of population density

Type III - very high death rates for the young, followed by lower death rates - often associated with organisms, such as oysters, that produce very many offspring but provide little or no care. some invertebrates show a "stair-stepped" curve with brief periods of high mortality during molts, followed by periods of lower mortality when the exoskeleton is hard.

Survivorship curves
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2 3

Life history patterns

the logistic population model predicts two main life history patterns. most populations cannot be characterized as either ror K-strategists; they have intermediate characteristics. r-Selection a. species that undergo selection to maximize their rate of natural increase b. often opportunistic species, tend to be colonizers. c. strategy for continued existence is based on individuals having the following traits: (small size, short life span, mature fast, produce many offspring, engage in little caring of offspring)

Life history patterns

d. such populations usually exhibit a survivorship curve similar to type III. e. thus, they rely on rapid dispersal to new unoccupied environments. K-Selection a. species that hold their populations fairly constant near the carrying capacity b. such populations are equilibrium species, tend to be specialists rather than colonizers, and may become extinct when their evolved way of life is disrupted (grizzly bear, Florida panther, etc.).

Life history patterns

c. overall strategy for continued existence is based on having the following traits: (large size, long life span, slow to mature, produce few offspring, expend considerable energy in care) d. such populations usually have a survivorship curve similar to type I. e. thus, they rely on competitive superiority to secure limited resources.

Life history patterns

Population pyramids at the beginning of twentieth century, human population grow rapidly different countries shows different growth rate (eg. Mexico grow rapidly) rate which population can be expected to grow in the future can be represent by population pyramids human population pyramid displays the age population by sex, female in most region have longer life expectancy than male

Population pyramids
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