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LEC 2b

Plant Populations in Vegetation

Describing the structure of a population


is central to understanding plant dynamics. plants are not evenly distributed in either time or space.

differences in environmental conditions, biotic neighborhoods,

and site histories influence the distribution and dynamics of plant populations. unlike most animals, individual adult plants do not move, in general, making tracking of survivorship and mortality much easier. plants can, however produce new individuals asexually and can drop or add new sets of organs (flowers, leaves, stems, and branches) in response to the external environment (biotic or abiotic). thus, the material of the plant ecologist is not limited to the distribution and dynamics of individuals in a population but includes the dynamic growth of the ever-changing plant body.

Plant Demography
study of changes in population size

and structure through time


note: circadian rhythm to aeons

To gain some perspective on plant populations


examine different patterns of population density and

distribution of individuals within a single species.


consider plant demography as it applies to

individuals and modules of plant growth.


examine how immigration and emigration of

propagules between populations may influence the persistence of species within an integrated landscape.

Density and Pattern


Density is the number of individuals per unit area, such as 100

molave trees per hectare in a Davao forest


The pattern of distribution also provides information about a

population; the same density of individuals can be characterized by one of the 3 statistical distributions: Random pattern (the location of any one plant has no bearing on the location of another of the same species).

Regular (hyperdispersed) pattern (the presence of one plant


decreases the probability, relative to random chance alone, of finding another very nearby or very far away); a fruit tree orchard is an extreme example of a regular pattern.

Clumped (aggregated, underdispersed) pattern (the presence


of one plant increases the probability of finding another nearby).

Sampling
Quadrat (an area of any shape that can be delimited so

that plant species may be listed, counted, or have their vegetation cover estimated
Completely random plot selection (picking plots over an

area at random
Stratified random sampling (subdividing the area into

sections and random sampling is done in each section); this is used in areas with strong environmental gradient; thus the area is well represented

It is important to note that: how the density and distribution of these species or populations in the area are essential information with regards to the interactions going on with other organisms (intraspecific or interspecific) or nonliving factors within the area (ecosystem).

Population
POPULATION (a group of individuals of the same species living in

the same area)


There is no limit on the size of the area so a population may be all

the cogon grass in an area in the campus


whatever the species or area, all populations undergo 3 distinct

phases during their existence: Growth Stability Decline


the KEY is BALANCE: no forces or rigid structures exist that prevent

ecosystems from changing; in fact, ecosystems can and do change, even drastically, as conditions are altered; the one thing that enables ecosystems to sustain a given composition of species over long periods of time is that all relationships in the system are in a DYNAMIC balance. thus, ECOSYSTEM balance is POPULATION balance.

thats all for


now, folks!

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