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Population ecology studies groups of individuals of the same species in a defined area, focusing on attributes such as population size, birth and death rates, sex ratio, and age structure. Key factors influencing population growth include natality, mortality, immigration, and emigration, with models and curves illustrating these dynamics. Additionally, population growth is affected by density-dependent and density-independent factors, such as disease and environmental stressors.

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22 views22 pages

PDF 6

Population ecology studies groups of individuals of the same species in a defined area, focusing on attributes such as population size, birth and death rates, sex ratio, and age structure. Key factors influencing population growth include natality, mortality, immigration, and emigration, with models and curves illustrating these dynamics. Additionally, population growth is affected by density-dependent and density-independent factors, such as disease and environmental stressors.

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Prince Raj
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Population Ecology

Definition
• A group of individuals of the same species living
in a defined area at a particular time.
• Individuals in a population share or compete for
resources and interbreed.
• Examples include all the cormorants in a wetland,
rats in an abandoned dwelling, teakwood trees in
a forest tract, bacteria in a culture plate, and lotus
plants in a pond.
Attributes
Population Size
• Significance of Population Size
• Population size is a key indicator of a species’
status in its habitat.
• Ecological processes such as competition with
other species, predator impact, or pesticide
application effects are evaluated in terms of
changes in population size.
• Range of Population Size
• Population sizes in nature can vary greatly, from
less than 10 (e.g., Siberian cranes at Bharatpur
wetlands in any year) to millions
(e.g., Chlamydomonas in a pond).
Measurement
• Measurement of Population Size
• Direct measurement = Census
• Indirect: Technically done as population
density (designated as N), population size is not
always measured in numbers.
• Other measures
• In cases where there are many small plants (e.g.,
200 carrot grass plants) and a single large tree
(e.g., a banyan tree with a large canopy), stating
that the population density of the banyan is low
relative to the carrot grass underestimates the
banyan’s significant role in the community.
• In such cases, the percent cover or biomass is a
more meaningful measure of population size.
Birth rate
• Birth rate is the number of individuals born in a
population per unit time (usually per year). It is
calculated by dividing the number of births by the
number of individuals in the population at the start
of the time period.
• Example: If in a pond there were 20 lotus plants
last year and through reproduction 8 new plants
are added, taking the current population to 28, we
calculate the birth rate as 8/20 = 0.4 offspring per
lotus per year.
Death rate
• Death rate is the number of individuals that die in
a population per unit time. It is calculated by
dividing the number of deaths by the number of
individuals in the population at the start of the
time period.
• Example: If 4 individuals in a laboratory
population of 40 fruitflies died during a specified
time interval, say a week, the death rate in the
population during that period is 4/40 = 0.1
individuals per fruitfly per week.
Sex Ratio
• Sex ratio is the proportion of males to females in
a population.
• Example: A population may have a sex ratio of
60% females and 40% males.
Age Structure
• Age structure is the distribution of individuals of
different ages in a population. It is often
represented by an age pyramid.
• Example: The shape of an age pyramid can
reflect the growth status of a population
(growing, stable, or declining).
Survivorship Curve
Survivorship Curves
• Survivorship Curves
• Graphically represent the number of surviving
individuals in a population at each age.
• Shows the pattern of
• Life-cycle
• Ecological adaptation at different stages
• Parental care
Survivorship Curves: Three Main Types
Survivorship Curves
• Three Main Types:
• Type I: Illustrates large mammals. Long lives,
low death rates. Mortality increases sharply
late in life.
• Type II: Represents birds, mice, etc. Constant
mortality/survivorship rate throughout life.
• Type III: Typical of small mammals, fish,
invertebrates. High initial death rate (low
survivorship) after birth.
Population Growth
4 Factors
4 Key factors:
1. Natality: Number of births during a given period
added to the initial density.
2. Mortality: Number of deaths in the population
during a given period.
3. Immigration: Number of individuals of the same
species that have come into the habitat from
elsewhere during the time period.
4. Emigration: Number of individuals of the
population who left the habitat and gone
elsewhere during the time period.
Formula
• if N is the population at time t, then its density at
time t +1 is:
• Nt+1 = Nt +[(B+I)–(D+E)]
Population Growth Models
Factors Controlling Population
Growth
Density-Dependent Factors:
1. Disease
2. Competition
3. Predation
Can have either a positive or a negative
correlation to population size.
Factors Controlling Population
Growth
Density-Independent Factors
1. Environmental Stressors
2. Catastrophe
Examples
• Food or Nutrient Limitation
• Pollutants
• Climate Extremes
Thank You

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