Population ecology

Population of organisms: a group of individuals of a species that inhabit an area

reliance on the same resources in the area
influenced by similar environmental conditions in the area
high likelihood of inter-breeding
 Population of organisms: characteristics

1. Density and dispersion of organisms

clumped (=aggregated)

uniform (=regular)

random
 Population of organisms: characteristics

2. Demography

Decline
mortalities
emigration

Growth
birth
immigration

Survival patterns:
Type I (convex): K-selected organisms: larger, fewer, protected
Type III (concave): r-selected organisms: smaller, more, on their own
 Population of organisms: characteristics: life history

Life history: the pattern of reproduction and survival of organisms

in a population (e.g., age of sexual maturity, age of death, growth rates, number
of offsprings, etc.) that influences how a population grows.

Natural selection favors life history traits that will lead to survival and
reproductive success of the population.
 Population of organisms: characteristics: life history
Trade-offs are common between survival, reproductive success and life
history traits of a species due to limitations in available resources.

Natural selection shapes the life history of a population to ensure the

survival of fit individuals to reach reproductive age.
Population of organisms: life history: reproductive modes

Variations in reproductive modes

result from trade-offs between
survival and reproductive success

semelparity
iteroparity
Population of organisms: predicting exponential growth

dN/dt = r.N
Population of organisms: predicting logistic growth

dN/dt = r.N [(K N)/K]

Population of organisms: population growth: reproductive strategies

r-selected (density-independent selection, smaller, more, on their own)

K-selected (density-dependent selection, larger, fewer, protected)
What limits population growth? negative feedback
Human population growth: history
Human population growth: history: birth and death rates
Human population growth
Human population growth: age structure

zero rapid slow

 Human population growth: demographic transition

Demographic transition: a shift from an unstable

population with high birth (fertility) and death
rates to a stable population with low birth and
death rates.
Human population growth: demographic transition: Thailand vs Philippines
Human population growth: demographic transition: aggressive vs. weak
reproductive health policies

Thailand, Malaysia
Philippines
 Human population growth: ecological footprint

Ecological footprint: measures how much of the Earths area is required to

support the human population to produce the resources we consume and to absorb
our waste products under prevailing technology; expressed as global hectares.
Human population growth: ecological footprint: rich vs. poor countries
 Human population growth: ecological footprint

It now takes more than one year and two months for the Earth to regenerate
what we use in a single year!
Human population growth: is there a carrying capacity for Homo sapiens?