Why?
Alaska contains over 127 million acres of untouched forest land. It is the largest
state in the United States, yet with a population of nearly 700,000 people it has
the same total population as Austin, Texas. New Jersey is one of the smallest
states and home to a population of nearly 9 million, but almost 1.8 million of its
4.4 million total land acres are untouched natural woodland. What are the
reasons for the ways populations organize themselves, and what effect does this
organization have on the environment?
= individual organism
1. Refer to Model 1.
a. What do the dots in the diagrams represent?
Organism living individually
b. What do the boxes in the diagrams represent? The area of the Habitat
organism live in.
2. Calculate the area of a single habitat. Total area of single habitat is
4Km
Population Distribution
Area (km2)
No. of
Individuals
31
7.75/Km
1/Km
12
3/Km
15
3.75/Km
5
4
7
5. Refer to the completed table above.
1.75/Km
Area (km2)
No. of
Individuals
16
8/Km
15
7.5/Km
1.5/Km
0.5/Km
Population Distribution
3
4
5
3/Km
3/Km
11
5.5/Km
2/Km
2.5/Km
b 2
2
1/Km
7. For which of the habitats in Model 1 is population density very similar
between sides a and b?
Habitat 1 and 3
8. For which of the habitats in Model 1 is the population density quite different
between sides a and b? habitat 2, 4 and 5
10. Compare and contrast the terms population density and population
distribution.
-population density is considered to be the number of individuals per area and
population distribution is the organization of a group of individuals in a given
area.
11. Assuming the population size stays constant, propose at least two factors
that might cause a population to shift from a low density habitat to a high
density habitat?
-loss or lack of resources such as food and change in the environment.
12. Animals such as lions or wolves often show clumped distribution. Give a
reason why this would be advantageous for these animals.
Population Distribution
This type of animals actually mark their territories so that other hunters
or predators would not enter and take away their resources or food, they
hunt in groups and remain in their own territories.
13. Other than social reasons, list any other factors that may lead to clumped
distribution patterns in populations.
Factors that may lead to a clumped population would be because of the
availability of resources such as food and water are only found in that
place, another factor would be for protection from invaders or predators,
a clumped population would probably cause predators to go away or as a
whole defend their territory.
14. For each of the organisms listed below state the type of population
distribution and population density of their habitat. Give a reason for
each answer.
Organism
Tigers
Distribut
ion
Uniforme
d
Density
Reason
Low
Clumped
high
Clumped
High
Random
High
uniform
high
Bison
Ants
Dandelion
s
Apple
trees in an
orchard
Density
Dependent
X
Density
Independent
X
Flood
Parasites
Acidity
Disease
X
X
Drought
Competition
Predation
Population Distribution
Extension
Questions Read
This!
Allelopathy (allelon of each other and pathos to suffer) is the chemical
inhibition of one species by another. This phenomena is frequently found in
plants where one species of plant releases a chemical into the environment that
inhibits the growth of another species of plant. An example is the Creosote
bush, which releases terpenes into the surrounding soil to inhibit the growth of
other plants.
19. Describe what might be observed in a habitat that would indicate a plant
species is allelopathic?
-Since that type of species releases chemicals and discourages other living
plants to live near it we can conclude that when observing the type of
species we will see that they are widely spread evenly, found by itself, and
that species living near it are either weak or tend not to survive for long.
20. Considering what you know about population distribution, what type of
distribution is likely to arise as a result of allelopathy? Justify your answer
using complete sentences.
-because they are they are widely spread evenly they can be considered
uniformed, also if within the same species they tend to survive within their
own type of habitat and may result in a clumped population.
Population Distribution
would be the only species living in the area they would begin growing at a
fast rate and create a clumped habitat.
23. Is it likely that a species that exhibits allelopathy would evolve over time?
Explain your answer using what you know about the mechanisms of
evolution.
Evolution is change in the heritable traits of biological populations over
successive generations. Allelopathy would eventually become the only
species living since there would be less competition and would probably
cause new species not to develop or exist.
24. The sorghum plant releases the allelotoxin sorgolene that disrupts
mitochondrial functions and inhibits photosynthesis. Brainstorm with your
group some positive applications for this allelotoxin.
- Effects of weeds on plants, it serves as growth regulators and natural
herbicides, to promote sustainable agriculture.
Population Distribution