Populations cant increase forever

Population Regulation
Factors affecting population size, growth
A realistic basis for dealing with the changes of numbers in
populations would include the following propositions:

Density dependent factors

Density independent factors

(a) All populations are constantly changing in size;

(b) The environments of all organisms are constantly changing;

These processes involve factors that have the ability to

either Limit or Regulate animal populations

(c) Local populations must be recognized and investigated if changes in

population size are to be understood;
(d) The influence on population size of various components of the
environment varies with population density, among species, among
local populations, and through time.

Limitation Regulation
Factors may Limit population growth, but not
necessarily Regulate growth

P.R. Ehrlich and L.C. Birch

Populations cant increase forever

Limiting and Regulating Factors

Limiting factors = density independent

Not all factors will contribute to regulation

Natural or anthropogenic process affecting rate of

population change
Weather
Predation

Effects of regulatory (density-dependent)

factors may not be greater than nonregulatory (density-independent) factors
Rainfall in S Texas, snow in northern areas

Regulating factors = density dependent

Per capita rate of growth declines with increasing
population size, individual fitness declines
Increased risk of dying from starvation
Decreased reproduction

Density dependence requires change in

demographic variables with density for
regulation to occur
Reproduction
Survival

Hypothetical recruitment and mortality for a

naturally regulated population

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Stochasticity!

Carrying capacity

Demographic rates

1.2
1

Population growing Population declining

Recruitment

Fancy word for randomness, usually

environmental variation
Seasonal changes
Weather (rainfall, snow, etc.)

0.8
0.6

Consequences of randomness:

0.4

Mortality

0.2
0

Population density

Equilibrium or CC is not a constant

Population size is not constant
Mix of density-dependent, independent effects
from the same factors

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Limitation vs. Regulation?
Hard to quantify effects of factors
Rarely know population density
Factors interact
Random environmental events = random

Detecting density-dependence is difficult

Long-term data
Can not be incorporated into management until
long after growth has occurred

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Limitation vs. Regulation?

Food
Weather
Predation
Disease

1986

Year

1996

Limitation vs. Regulation?

Cover

Food

Food
Regulation likely
Evidence hard to come by
Affected by weather and other factors

Food quality and quantity

Influence birth, death rates
Low energy intake during estrus affects ovulation
Low protein during late gestation results in small
offspring, high mortality

Food

Limitation vs. Regulation?

Weather
Limitation likely
Affects all regardless of density
Snow
Rain

Effects worse when near K

Animals already in poor condition

Weather

Limitation vs. Regulation?

Predation
Limitation likely
No evidence for regulation
Animals in poor condition may be more vulnerable
Abundant prey may be targeted

Predator removals have short-term effects

Predator-prey dynamics may be complex

Limitation vs. Regulation?

Disease

Disease
Limitation likely, but hard to quantify
No evidence for regulation
Animals in poor condition may be more vulnerable
May have greater prevalence at high density

Eradication of disease has resulted in

population increase
Rinderpest in Africa
Screw worm in Texas

Limitation vs. Regulation?

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Effects of changes in management

Cover
Limitation likely
Specialists
Bighorn sheep, mountain goats

High density may destroy cover (indirect)

Lack of access to cover = mortality from
predation or exposure
Heavily grazed vs. ungrazed areas

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Effects May be Sex- or Age-Specific

Effects May be Sex- or Age-Specific

Response to regulation is imperfect

Limitation, Regulation in Reality

Density dependence can have a large

effect on population growth
Strong effect may lead to overcompensation
Population decreases, increases too quickly
Erratic, cyclic, chaotic population dynamics
Strong feedbacks DO NOT imply stability

1986

Year

1996

Population Regulation

Population Regulation

Response to regulation is imperfect

Density-dependence: negative feedback loop
Effects not immediate
Growth slows, but does not stop
Delayed effects on juvenile growth, recruitment