J.T.

II Olivar
Faculty of Arts and Letters
University of Santo Tomas
Factors affecting Population
Size
POPULATION SIZE © 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning

Growth factors Decrease factors

(biotic potential) (environmental resistance)
Abiotic Abiotic
Favorable light Too much or too little light
Favorable temperature Temperature too high or too low
Favorable chemical environment Unfavorable chemical environment
(optimal level of critical nutrients) (too much or too little of critical
nutrients)
Biotic Biotic
High reproductive rate Low reproductive rate
Generalized niche Specialized niche
Adequate food supply Inadequate food supply
Suitable habitat Unsuitable or destroyed habitat
Ability to compete for resources Too many competitors
Ability to hide from or defend Insufficient ability to hide from or defend
against predators against predators
Ability to resist diseases and parasites Inability to resist diseases and parasites
Ability to migrate and live in other Inability to migrate and live in other
habitats habitats
Ability to adapt to environmental Inability to adapt to environmental
change change
Population Growth
© 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning

K
Population size (N)

Population size (N)

Time (t) Time (t)

Exponential Growth Logistic Growth

 2.0

1.5
Number of sheep (millions)

1.0

.5

1800 1825 1850 1875 1900 1925

Year
 2,000
Number of reindeer

1,500

1,000

500

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950

Year
 © 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning

Irregular
Stable
Number of individuals

Cyclic

Irruptive

Time
 160
Population size (thousands)

140 Hare

120

100 Lynx

80

60

40

20

0
1845 1855 1865 1875 1885 1895 1905 1915 1925 1935

Year
 Carrying capacity
K

K species;
experience
K selection
Number of individuals

r species;
experience
r selection

Time
 r-Selected Species

cockroach dandelion

Many small offspring

Little or no parental care and protection of offspring
Early reproductive age
Most offspring die before reaching reproductive age
Small adults
Adapted to unstable climate and environmental
conditions
High population growth rate (r)
Population size fluctuates wildly above and below
carrying capacity (K)
Generalist niche
Low ability to compete
Early successional species
 K-Selected Species

elephant saguaro

Fewer, larger offspring

High parental care and protection of offspring
Later reproductive age
Most offspring survive to reproductive age
Larger adults
Adapted to stable climate and environmental
conditions
Lower population growth rate (r)
Population size fairly stable and usually close
to carrying capacity (K)
Specialist niche
High ability to compete
Late successional species
 Percentage surviving (log scale)

0
1
10
100

Age
 Po
p
C ula

er r
on t
En ola
gy
tro ion
S l

PRINCIPLES
OF
SUSTAINABILITY

N
R utr

ty
ec ie

si
yc nt

er
iv
lin
g od
Bi
 Principles of Sustainability

How Nature Works Lessons for Us

Runs on renewable Rely mostly on

solar energy. renewable solar
energy.
Recycles nutrients
and wastes. Prevent and reduce
There is little waste pollution and recycle
in nature. and reuse resources.

Uses biodiversity Preserve biodiversity

to maintain itself by protecting
and adapt to new ecosystem
environmental services and
conditions. preventing
premature extinction
Controls a species' of species.
population size
and resource use Reduce births and
by interactions wasteful resource
with its environment use to prevent
and other species. environmental
overload and
depletion and
degradation of
resources.