Population Ecology 2013-14

Population Ecology
Certain ecological principles govern the
growth and sustainability of all

populations--including human
populations

Ecological Principles Apply to All Species

Humans, Palms, Crabs, Seagulls, algae, etc.

Limits to Growth
A

populations growth depends on

the resources of its environment

Deer

introduced to Angel Island

Population outstripped resources

Angel Island

Angel Island 1
A. Angel Island is a game reserve in San Francisco Bay near Sausalito B. In the early 1900's well-meaning nature lovers introduced deer to the island C. With no natural predators to control them the population quickly rose to a level much higher than the island could support D. Well meaning people brought food to the island to feed the deer, causing the population to further increase

Angel Island 2
E.

Eventually the population grew to over 300, much too large for the island to support F. As the deer began to starve they ate most of the native vegetation. Without vegetation the soil started washing away and the island environment rapidly deteriorated

Angel Island - 3
G. It was proposed that hunters kill some of the deer and/or that coyotes, the deers natural predators, be introduced to the island. However many people objected because they viewed both alternatives as cruel H. Eventually two thirds of the population was rounded up and moved to the mainland, at a cost of $3,000 per deer

Angel Island - 4

I. However, tracking studies revealed that the majority of the deer moved to the mainland were killed by cars, dogs, coyotes and hunters within 60 days J. The story of Angel Island illustrates a basic ecological principle: a population's growth is dependent on the resources of its environment. Human intervention could only postpone, not prevent the inevitable

Angel Island - 5

K. Many environmental problems are simply the result of a lack of understanding of basic ecological principles by politicians, lawyers, economists, the general public and even well intentioned "environmentalists". Human ignorance of simple ecological principles often leads to disastrous results

From: http://arnica.csustan.edu/boty1050/Ecology/ecol ogy.htm

Human Population Problems

Over

7 billion people alive 2 billion live in poverty

About Most

resources are consumed by the

relatively few people in developed

countries

Population Growth
For

most of human history, humans have not been very numerous compared to other species.
It took all of human history to reach 1 billion. 150 years to reach 3 billion. 12 years to go from 5 to 6 billion. Less than 12 years to go from 6 to 7 billion.
Human

population tripled during the twentieth century.

World Population Growth Visualized

From

youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4

BbkQiQyaYc

Human Population History

Seven Billion..
From

the National Geographic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s c4HxPxNrZ0

U.S. POPClock Projection

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the resident population of the United States, projected to 03/21/05 at 17:04 GMT (EST+5) is 295,707,750 COMPONENT SETTINGS One birth every.................................. 7 seconds One death every.................................. 11 seconds One international migrant (net) every............ 24 seconds Net gain of one person every..................... 12 seconds So what do you think the US population is today?

US PopClock today
http://www.census.gov/population/w

ww/popclockus.html

Population

A group of individuals of the same species

occupying a given area during a particular period of time

Can be described by demographics Vital statistics such as size, density, distribution, and age structure

Population Age Structure

Divide

population into age

categories
Populations

reproductive base

includes members of the reproductive and pre-reproductive age categories

Population Age Structure Diagram

Density & Distribution

Number of individuals in some specified area of habitat

Crude density information is more useful if combined with distribution data

clumped

nearly uniform

random

Figure 45.2

Page 808

Clumped Distribution

Determining Population Size

Direct

counts are most accurate but seldom feasible sample an area, then extrapolate method is used for

Can

Capture-recapture

mobile species

Population Estimate
How

could you determine the population size of the students in Robinson Hall?

The number of revelers on the beach?

Does Time and Place Make a Difference?

Hilton Head

Daytona Beach

Capture-Recapture Method
Capture,

mark, and release individuals

sample later and capture second

Return

Count

the number of marked individuals and use this to estimate total population

Example: Capture - Recapture

In 1970, naturalists wanted to estimate the number of pickerel fish in Dryden Lake in central New York State. They captured 232 pickerel, put a mark on their fins, and returned the fish to the lake. Several weeks later, another sample of 329 pickerel fish were captured. Of this second sample, 16 had marks on their fins. (Chaterjee in Mosteller et al. Statistics by Example: Finding Models).

Chain Pickerel

How Many Pickerel Were in the Lake?

N = total number of pickerel in lake NM = total number of marked pickerel (232) RC = Number of recaptured pickerel (16) NS = number of fish in sample (329)

NM/N = RC/NS N = (NM x NS)/RC

Solution
N N

= (232 x 329)/16

= 4770 pickerel in the lake (estimate) is an example of how the Capture/Recapture method works.

This

Assumptions
The sampling is random The marked organisms will not be harmed by the capture and markings The marked organisms will not avoid recapture The samples are statistically large enough to avoid problems with sampling error No significant emigration/immigration occurs The sampling is done promptly

Changes in Population Size

Immigration Emigration Births

adds individuals

subtracts individuals

add individuals subtract individuals

Deaths

Zero Population Growth

Interval

in which number of births

is balanced by number of deaths

Assume

no change as a result of

migration
Population

size remains stable

Per Capita Rates

Rates Total

per individual number of events in a time

interval divided by the number of individuals

Per

capita birth rate per month =

Number of births per month
Population size

r
Net

reproduction per individual per

unit time (Intrinsic rate of natural increase) a constant the units are

inverse time
Variable

combines per capita birth

and death rates (assuming both

constant)
Can

be used to calculate rate of

Exponential Growth Equation

G = rN
G

is population growth per unit time r is net reproduction per individual per unit time N is population size

Exponential Growth

Population size expands by ever increasing increments during successive intervals The larger the population gets, the more individuals there are to reproduce

Figure 45.4 Page 810

(r) Strategies

Short life Rapid growth Early maturity Many small offspring. Little parental care. Little investment in individual offspring. Adapted to unstable environment. Pioneers, colonizers Niche generalists Prey Regulated mainly by extrinsic factors. Low trophic level.

Weedy Species r Strategists

Opportunistic Species - Quickly appear when opportunities arise. Many weeds. Pioneer Species - Can quickly colonize open, disturbed, or bare ground.

Effect of Deaths

Population grows exponentially as long as per capita death rates are lower than per capita birth rates
25% mortality between divisions

Figure 45.5 Page 811

Biotic Potential
Maximum

rate of increase per

individual under ideal conditions

Varies In

between species

nature, biotic potential is rarely

reached

Limiting Factors
Any

essential resource that is in

short supply
All

limiting factors acting on a

population dictate sustainable population size

Carrying Capacity (K)

Maximum

number of individuals that

can be sustained in a particular habitat

Logistic

growth occurs when

population size is limited by carrying

capacity

Logistic Growth Equation

G = rmax N ((K-N)/K)

G = population growth per unit time rmax = maximum population growth rate

per unit time

N = number of individuals K = carrying capacity

Logistic Growth

As size of the population increases, rate of reproduction decreases

When the population reaches carrying capacity, population growth ceases

Logistic Growth Graph

initial carrying capacity

new carrying capacity

Figure 45.6 Page 812

K Strategists
Long

life Slower growth Late maturity Fewer large offspring. High parental care and protection. High investment in individual offspring.

More on K Strategists
Adapted

to stable environment. Later stages of succession. Niche specialists Predators (often, but not always) Regulated mainly by intrinsic factors. High trophic level.

Top Predators

Overshooting Capacity

Population may temporarily increase above carrying capacity

Overshoot is usually followed by a crash; dramatic increase in deaths

Reindeer on St. Matthews Island
Figure 45.6 Page 812

Density-Dependent Controls
Logistic

growth equation deals factors become more

with density-dependent controls

Limiting

intense as population size increases

Disease,

competition, parasites,

toxic effects of waste products

Density-Independent Controls
Factors

unaffected by population

density
Natural

disasters or climate changes

affect large and small populations alike

A Hurricane is an Example of a Density Independent Factor

Earth Quakes and Tsunamis

Life History Patterns

Patterns

of timing of reproduction

and survivorship
Vary

among species in survivorship

Summarized

curves and life tables

Life Table
Tracks

age-specific patterns is divided into age

Population

categories
Birth

rates and mortality risks are

calculated for each age category

USA

Survivorship Curves
Graph of age-specific survivorship

Figure 45.8 Page 815

Type I
Large

animals, few offspring, much parental care, live to an old age

Type II
Birds are good examples Intermediate number of offspring, some parental care, fairly constant survival rate over a life time.

Type III
These are typical r strategists, weedy species, pesky.. Short life, many offspring, little parental care, high mortality of the young

Predation and Life History

Guppy

populations vary in life history have genetic basis

characteristics and morphology

Differences Variation

seems to be result of directional

selection by predators

Human Population Growth

Population
Rates

now exceeds 6 billion

of increase vary among countries annual increase is 1.26 percent continues to increase

Average

Population

exponentially

Side-Stepping Controls
Expanded

into new habitats increased carrying

Agriculture

capacity; use of fossil fuels aided

increase
Hygiene

and medicine lessened

effects of density-dependent controls

Future Growth
Exponential

growth cannot continue in technology may

forever
Breakthroughs

further increase carrying capacity

Eventually,

density-dependent

factors will slow growth

Fertility Rates
Worldwide,

average annual rate of

increase is 1.26%
Total

fertility rate (TFR) is average

in developing countries, lowest

number of children born to a woman

Highest

in developed countries

Age Structure Diagrams

Show age distribution of a population
Figure 45.14 Page 821

Rapid Growth

Slow Growth

Zero Growth

Negative Growth

Population Momentum
Lowering

fertility rates cannot immediately slow population growth rate

Why? If

There are already many future parents alive

every couple had just two children, population would still keep growing for another 60 years

Projected Human Populations

Life Expectancy and Income

Slowing Growth in China

Worlds

most extensive family rewards small family

planning program
Government

size, penalizes larger families, provides free birth control, abortion,

sterilization
Since

1972, TFR down to 1.8 from

5.7

Effects of Economic Development

Total

fertility rates (TFRs) are highest in

developing countries, lowest in

developed countries
When

individuals are economically

secure, they are under less pressure to have large families

Sweat Shop, India

Shop size = 2m x 5m. How many people can you count? http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/grade7/india/Sweatshop.html

Population Sizes in 2001

Asia
Europe

3.7 billion
727 million

Africa
Latin America

816 million
525 million

North America
Oceania

316 million
31 million

Population 2008
Asia Europe Africa Latin

4.1 billion 732 million 973 million 577 million 337 million 34 million

America America

North

Oceania

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population

Demographic Transition Model

Based

on historical data from

western Europe
Postulates

that as countries become

industrialized, first death rates drop,

then birth rates drop

Demographic Transition Model

Stage 1 Preindustrial Stage 2 Transitional
relative population size births
deaths

Stage 3 Industrial

Stage 4 Postindustrial

low

increasing

very high

decreasing

low

zero

negative

Figure 45.16 Page 822

Resource Consumption
United

States has 4.7 percent of the worlds population have a disproportionately large effect on the worlds resources capita, Americans consume more resources and create more pollution than citizens of less developed nations

Americans Per

Population Ecology The End