Dr. Md.

Jasim Uddin
Population Ecology:
Professor

Department of Fisheries Management

BAU, Mymensingh

Population: Population may be defined as a collective group of organisms of the same species
occupying a particular area at a particular time perpetuating year after year through
reproduction and recruitment. E.g., Gibelion catla population in the Halda River.

Population group characteristics:

1. Density;
2. Natality or birth rate;
3. Mortality or death rate;
4. Biotic potential;
5. Age distribution;
6. Growth form;
7. Dispersion or internal distribution pattern or population structure;
8. Dispersal; and
9. Isolation and territoriality.

1. Density: Population density is population size in relation to per unit space. It is expressed as
the number of individuals, or the population biomass in per unit area or volume. E.g., 830
people/km2, 5 million diatoms/m3 water. Density can be measured in 2 different ways: a) crude
density, and b) specific or ecological density.
a) Crude density: The number of individuals or biomass in per unit total space.
b) Specific or ecological density: The number of organisms or biomass in per unit of
habitable space that can be colonized by the organisms.
2. Natality or birth rate: Natality is the inherent ability of a population to increase in number.
Production of new individuals may occur by born, hatch, germination or by division. Rate is
obtained by dividing the change in number of individuals in the population by the period of time
elapsed during the change. Natality can be divided into 2 types: a) Maximum natality, and b)
ecological or realized natality.
a) Maximum natality: It is the theoretical maximum production of new individuals under
ideal conditions. In this case, no ecological limiting factors act upon the population but
reproduction can be limited by physiological factors. It is constant for a given
population.
 b) Ecological or realized natality: It is the increase of new individuals under actual or
specific environmental condition. It is not constant and varies with the size and
composition of the population and the physical environmental conditions.
3. Mortality or death rate: Mortality refers to death of individuals in the population. Mortality
may be expressed as the number of individuals dying in a given period or as a specific rate in
terms of percentage of the total population. Mortality can also be devided into 2 types: a)
ecological or realized mortality, and b) minimum mortality.
a) Ecological or realized mortality: It is the loss of individuals under a given environmental
condition. It is not a constant but varies with population and environmental conditions.
b) Minimum mortality: It represents the loss of individuals under ideal or nonlimiting
conditions.
4. Biotic potential: It is the inherent power of a population to increase in numbers. When the
environment is unlimited i.e., there is no limiting effects on organisms the present growth
rate becomes constant and maximum for the existing condition.
5. Age distribution: It is an important population characteristic which influences both natality
and mortality. Mortality usually varies with age and reproduction is often restricted to certain
age groups e.g., middle age groups for higher animals and plants. The ratio of various age
groups in a population determines the current reproductive status and indicates what may
be expected in future. Bodenheimer (1938) has identified three ecological age groups in a
population which may be outlined below: (i) Pre-productive (Juveniles): Up to age 14 years in
case of human beings. (ii) Reproductive: Up to age 15-55 yrs. (iii) Post-reproductive: Above 55
yrs. There are three different types of age pyramids: a) expanding, b) stationary or stable, and
c) declining age pyramids.
a) Expanding age pyramid: A rapidly expanding population will contain a large proportion
of young individuals.
b) Stationary or stable age pyramids: There is a more or less even distribution of age
classes in stable age pyramids. Once stable age distribution is achieved, unsusal increases
in natality and mortality result in temporary changes, with spontaneous return to the
stable situation.
c) Declining age pyramid: In a declining population, a large proportion of old individuals are
present.
6. Growth form: Populations have characteristic patterns of increase which are called
population growth forms. There are 2 basic patterns of growth forms, a) J-shaped growth
form, and b) S-shaped or sigmoid growth form.
a) J-shaped growth form: In J-shaped growth form, population density increases rapidly in
exponential or compound interest fashion and then stops abruptly as environmental
resistance become effective more or less suddenly. This growth form is generally found in
microorganisms. In this form, there is no equilibrium level i.e., it has no carrying capacity.
This form may be represented by the simple model:

∆N/∆t = rN with definite limit on N

 b) S- shaped or sigmoid growth form: In S-shaped growth form, population growth is slow at
first, then becomes rapid as in J- shaped form, but soon slows down gradually as the
environmental resistance increases, until a more or less equilibrium level is reached and
maintained. This form may be represented by simple logistic model:

∆N/∆t = rN(K-N)/K

Here, K is the upper asymptote of the sigmoid curve, a constant beyond which no major
increase can occur. This K is also called carrying capacity.

Carrying capacity: It is the maximum biomass (weight of living organisms) that can be obtained
from a given area at a particular time interval. E.g., If we get 500 kg fish after 6 months from a
specific fish pond having an area of 1 ha, the carrying capacity of that habitat is 500
kg/ha/6months. It is not a constant and can be increased by improving management technique.

Standing crop: It is the total biomass of a given area at a particular time. E.g., if we get get 500
kg fish from a pond have an area of 1 ha right now, the standing crop will be 500 kg/ha.

7. Dispersion or population internal distribution pattern or population structure: It is the

spatial distribution of the individuals of a population at any particular moment. Individuals in
a population may be distributed according to 3 broad patterns: a) random, b) uniform, and c)
clumped.
 Uniform distribution Random distribution Clumped distribution

a) Random distribution: Random distribution is relatively rare in nature. It occurs where the
environment is very uniform and there is no tendency to aggregate.
b) Uniform distribution: Uniform distribution may occur where competition between
individuals is severe or where there is a positive antagonism which promotes even
spacing.
c) Clumped distribution: Clumping represents the commonest pattern. In case of clumped
distribution, the groups could be the same or of varying size, and they could be randomly
distributed, or uniformly distributed, or themselves aggregated or clumped with large
unoccupied spaces. Therefore we can consider 5 types of population internal
distribution: a) random, b) uniform, c) random clumped, d) uniform clumped, and e)
aggregated clumped.

Aggregation of individuals of a population may occur-

i) In response to local habitat differences;

ii) In response to daily and seasonal weather changes;
iii) As the result of reproductive processes; or
iv) As the result of social attractions.

Aggregation may increase competition between individuals for nutrients, food or space, but this
is often more than counterbalanced by increased survival of the group.

Allee’s Principle: The degree of aggregation, as well as the overall-density which results in
optimum population growth and survival, varies with species and conditions; undercrowding
(lack of aggregation), as well as overcrowding may be limiting. This is Allee’s Principle.

8. Dispersal: Population dispersal is the movement of individuals or their disseminules (seeds,

spores, larvae etc.) into or out of the population or population area. It has 3 forms: a)
emigration, b) immigration, and c) migration.
a) Emigration: It is the one-way outward movement. Some individuals leave the population
area and never come back.
b) Immigration: It is the one-way inward movement. Some individuals enter the population
area but never go back.
 c) Migration: It s the periodic departure and return again. In this case some individuals
leave the population area and after serving certain purposes, they again come back to
the population area. Fish migrates for feeding, breeding and overwintering purposes.
Ilish is a migratory fish because, it migrates from the Bay of Bengal to the upstreams (e.g.,
Padma) of Bangladesh for spawning purpose. After spawning they again go back to the
sea.
9. Isolation and territoriality: Isolation of individuals, pairs, or small groups in the population
are important in populations of higher animals. Isolation is the result of a) interindividual
competition, and b) actual direct antagonism. Individuals, pairs, or family groups of vertebrates
and the higher invertebrates commonly restrict their activities to a definite area, called the
home range. If this area is actively defended, it is called territory. Territoriality is more
pronounced in vertebrates and certain arthropods which have complicated reproductive
behavior patterns involving nest building egg laying and care and protection of young. Isolation
reduces competition, conserve energy during critical periods and prevents overcrowding and
exhaustion of food supply.