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Population Dynamics

Population dynamics are determined by population growth and density, natality (birth rate), mortality (death rate), and biotic potential. There are three types of population growth curves: J-shaped showing exponential growth typical of r-selected species; S-shaped showing logistic growth of K-selected species; and the Allee effect where populations below a critical size have problems. Population growth is regulated by density-dependent factors like resources and density-independent factors like weather. Natality and mortality along with migration influence population size changes. Survivorship curves show the number of survivors by age group and are either Type I, II, or III. A population's biotic potential is its maximum reproductive capacity limited by the environment and

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220 views5 pages

Population Dynamics

Population dynamics are determined by population growth and density, natality (birth rate), mortality (death rate), and biotic potential. There are three types of population growth curves: J-shaped showing exponential growth typical of r-selected species; S-shaped showing logistic growth of K-selected species; and the Allee effect where populations below a critical size have problems. Population growth is regulated by density-dependent factors like resources and density-independent factors like weather. Natality and mortality along with migration influence population size changes. Survivorship curves show the number of survivors by age group and are either Type I, II, or III. A population's biotic potential is its maximum reproductive capacity limited by the environment and

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Umair
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Population Dynamics
Population dynamics depend upon
1. Population Growth and Density
2. Natality (Birth Rate)
3. Mortality (Death Rate)
4. Biotic Potential

Population Growth and Density


 Three types of population growth are known
1. J- shaped Growth curve, showing exponential growth, typical of r-selected species
(high population densities, predictable environments and density dependent effects
are strong), high growth rate, large clutch size, no parental care

2. S- shaped or Sigmoid growth curve, showing logistic growth, typical of k-selected


species(low population densities, unpredictable and harsh environments and
frequently disturbed environments that result in catastrophic mortality and density
independent mortality), slower growth rate, small clutch size, extended period of
parental care
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3. Allee effect - problems occur in populations that become too small and have fallen
below a critical population size, may need a certain number of individuals to
stimulate reproduction, especially for solitary species

Population Regulation - two kinds of factors affect population growth


1. Density-dependent - depend on the number of individuals in the
population e.g. food, mates, increased rates of predation and
parasitism, stress and behavioral problems due to overcrowding,
available habitat, water, oxygen, waste buildup

2. Density-independent - do not depend on the number of individuals in


the population e.g. weather and climate (drought, typhoon, hurricane,
excessive rain or snow, etc...), geological disturbances (earthquake,
tidal wave, volcanic eruption, etc.)

 Fecundity: It is the potential reproductive capacity of an organism or population


measured by the no. of gametes in animals or propagules in case of plants. It has
an inverse correlation with the size of organism.

 The three factors determine how much the size of a population changes
1. Birth rates
2. Death rates
3. Migration (immigration, emigration)
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 for many populations, birth and death rates are primary determinants of
population growth.
 all can be measured and used to predict how population will change in size over
time.

Natality (Birth Rate)


 It covers the no. of new individuals produced by a population
 It is of two types:
 Maximum or absolute natality: It is the theoretical maximum no. of individuals under
ideal conditions and is a constant for a given population (limited only by physiological
factors)
 Ecological or realized natality: It is population growth under an actual existing specific
condition (limited by environmental factors)

Mortality (Death Rate)


 It is the death of individuals in the population.
 It may be
 Minimum mortality or specific or potential mortality: It represents the theoretical
minimum loss under ideal or non-limiting conditions. It is constant for a given population
 Ecological or realized mortality: It is the actual loss of an individual under a given
environmental condition. It is not constant and varies with population and environmental
conditions

 Vital Index of a population = Births/Deaths x 100

Survivorship:
Survivorship – it is indicated by the number of individuals that reach the next year of life
Birth - number of inidivuals born in a designated time frame
Mortality - number of individuals that die each year
Study of survivorship - number of survivors/age group, yields 3 different curves
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Type I - high survivorship for most age groups except older individuals: humans, large
mammals, trees, organisms that produce few offspring but provide extensive parental
care
Type II - constant survivorship rate for most age groups: some species of birds, lizards,
invertebrates and rodents, annual plants
Type III - low survivorship early but individuals that do make it live longer: many species of fish
and marine invertebrates, planktonic algae, produce many young and no parental care

Biotic Potential
 It is the reproductive potential of a population
 Each population has the inherent power to grow under non-limiting environment and it
can become constant and maximum, designated by the symbol r as
 r = b-d (where b is birth rate and d is death rate)
 It is the inherent property of a population to reproduce, to survive and to increase in
number
 The only two factors governing population increase (N) are biotic potential (BP) and
environmental resistance (ER) as
 N = BP – ER
 The rate of population increase is dependent upon the no. of individuals in the
reproductive stage.
 N/ t = rn (where N = increase in no. of individuals in the given time t , r =
reproductive rate, n = no. of reproductive individuals)
 The above equation is governed by the carrying capacity (K) of the environment as
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 N/ t = rn (K-N)/ K (where K = carrying capacity = maximum no. of individuals of a


population supported by available resources in a given area)

Definitions:
Clutch Size: No. of off springs produced per reproductive episode by any individual.
R-type individuals: They are called the Ruderals and take advantage of any opportunity
coming up their way. They are also called opportunists.
K-type individuals: Individuals governed or regulated by the carrying capacity of the
environment
Carrying capacity: The ability or limitation of the environment to support a certain no. of
individuals in a population.

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