Populations

What is a population?
 Population – all the individuals of a
species that live together in one place
at one time.
How Do We Describe Populations?
 Populations can be described 3 ways:
 Size – the number of individuals in a
population
 Density - the number of individuals that
live in a given area
 Dispersion – the way the individuals are
arranged.
 Random
 Even
 Clumped
Population Growth
 Populations grow as more individuals
are born than die in a given period.
 Growth rate can be
 Positive (+): births > deaths
 Negative (-): deaths > births
 Zero (0): births = deaths
 Growth rate affects population size
Exponential Growth
 Exponential growth curve – a curve
that shows population size steadily
increasing.
Logistic Growth
 Logistic growth model – a curve
that shows population growth limited
by density-dependent factors.
Carrying Capacity
 Carrying capacity - the largest
population that an environment can
support at any given time. (K)
Exponential vs. Logistical Growth
What Limits Population Growth?
 Populations do not usually grow
without limits.
 Their growth is limited by predation,
disease and availability of resources.
Limits on Population Growth
 Density Dependent Limits
 Food
 Water
 Shelter Water and shelter are
critical limiting factors in
 Disease the desert.

 Density Independent Limits

 Weather
 Climate
Fire is an example of a
Density independent
Limiting factor.

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Resources can affect population size

 Limiting factor is an environmental factor

that prevents an organism or population
from reaching its full potential of
distribution or activity.
 Density–dependent factor is triggered by
increasing population density, for example, a
food or water shortage. (The rate at which they
are used up depends on the number of
individuals that are using them).
 Density–independent factor reduces a
population by the same proportion regardless of
the population size, for example, a forest fire.
Reproductive Strategies
 r-strategists – species that grow
exponentially when environmental
conditions allow them to reproduce.
 They usually have a short life, mature
rapidly, and reproduce early.
 Example: bacteria, mosquitoes
Reproductive Strategies
 K-strategists – populations that
grow slowly.
 Usually have a long life, mature slowly,
and reproduce late.
 Ex: whales, tigers, gorillas, redwoods.
Human Population Growth

 Human population growth does not currently

show density effects that typically characterize
natural populations.
 In natural populations, per capita population
growth rate decreases with population size,
whereas global human population growth rate
has a positive relationship.
 Human population growth rate has been
growing more than exponentially.
 Limited resources eventually will cause human
population growth to slow, but global human
carrying capacity is not known.