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Lecture - Slides - of - Population Ecology - 2

This document discusses population ecology concepts including population growth forms, intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting population growth rates, density dependent and independent regulation, and examples of fluctuating populations like snowshoe hares and Canada lynx. Key forms of population growth mentioned are exponential, logistic, J-shaped, and S-shaped curves.

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25 views29 pages

Lecture - Slides - of - Population Ecology - 2

This document discusses population ecology concepts including population growth forms, intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting population growth rates, density dependent and independent regulation, and examples of fluctuating populations like snowshoe hares and Canada lynx. Key forms of population growth mentioned are exponential, logistic, J-shaped, and S-shaped curves.

Uploaded by

yashvardhansharma
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ecology (BIO C322)

Population Ecology (cont’d)


Concepts of Rate

• Population a changing entity → Population


dynamics.

• N = Number of organisms; t = time

• Average growth rate = ΔN / Δt


• Specific growth rate (SGR) = ΔN / NΔt
• Percentage growth rate = SGR x 100
Instantaneous Rates

• Rate of change when Δt → 0


• Instantaneous growth rate = dN/dt
• Instantaneous SGR = dN/Ndt
• Growth curve vs growth rate curve.
• Slope at any point on growth curve →
growth rate.
• Point of Inflection: The point where growth
rate is maximum.
• In non-limiting environment (w.r.t. food,
space, others):

• dN/dt = rN;

• r = rmax = Instantaneous coefficient of


population growth or intrinsic rate of natural
increase or biotic potential or reproductive
potential.

• ‘r’ depends on environmental condns.


• Nt = N0ert → r = (ln Nt - ln N0) / t;

• b & d = inst. specific birth & death rates


• i & e = inst. immigration, emigration rates
• r = b – d + (i – e);
• If i = e, then r = b – d;

• r>0 (b>d) → Population increases


exponentially;
• r<0 (b<d) → Exponential decline;
• r=0 (b=d) → No change in population size.
Read this…

• Populations in nature often grow


exponentially for short periods when there
is ample food & no crowding effects, etc.
• e.g. plankton blooms, pest eruptions,
bacterial growth in new culture media.
• But exp increase can’t continue very long.
• Interactions within population & external
environmental resistances soon slow down
the rate of growth.
Population Growth Forms
• J-shaped → Exponential increase followed
by sudden decline;

• dN/dt = rN;

• Sudden decline due to shortage of food


resource, sudden temperature change,
end of reproductive season.

• Boom-and-bust pattern.
S-shaped growth form
• Sigmoid or logistic → 4 phases:
– Establishment or lag phase;
– Logarithmic phase;
– Negative acceleration (environ resistance);
– Equilibrium.

• dN/dt = rN [(K - N) / K] = rN [1 – N/K]

• K = (Max) carrying capacity = Max no. of


individuals of a population that can survive
in a given habitat = 2 x Inflection point.
Practice Concept
• The equation for logistic growth patterns is
the same as the exponential one, with the
exception of the expression [1 – N/K].

• This term indicates the environmental


resistance created by the growing population
itself,

• which brings about an increasing reduction in


the potential reproduction rate, as population
size approaches carrying capacity.
• Human population is constantly increasing…
But it is predicted that we would reach
‘K’ value in 21st century!!
• Exponential: Highest growth form;

• Logistic: Lowest growth form (-ve feedback);

• Intermediate pattern for most populations.


Fluctuations around ‘K’ value

• The S-shaped (logistic) growth curve


suggests a levelled-off stage in which
population and environment are at
equilibrium (at the carrying capacity).

• However, in biological systems, equilibrium


is a dynamic state of fluctuation rather than
an unwavering constant.
Irruptive Populations
• Insects, some plants, pests.
• Explode in numbers unexpectedly in a
boom-and-bust pattern.
• e.g. At certain time of year, mosquitoes ↑.
• Fluctuations in population size:
– Due to extrinsic factors (temp, rainfall);
– Due to intrinsic factors (disease, predation).
• Cyclic species: Show regular variation in
population size (irrespective of environ).
9- to 10-year Oscillations (Canada)
• Prey: Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus).
• Predator: lynx (Felix lynx).
• Lynx population peak → 9-10 years.

• Peaks of abundance followed by crashes.

• Similar cycle for hare.

• Hare cycle precedes lynx cycle by 1-2 years.

• Hare cycle either predator-driven {top-down}


or resource (food)-driven {bottom-up} →
Both.
Pests always harmful? Time to rethink…
• Coniferous forests: Older trees suppressing
growth of young trees (shade).
• But older trees vulnerable to defoliation by
caterpillars of budworm.

• Older trees killed


→ Nutrient return to soil.
• Younger trees released from shade-
suppression, grow rapidly.
Coniferous Forest rejuvenated!!
Mechanisms of Population Regulation
• Density-independent factor (Extrinsic): If its
effect is independent of the population size.
– Climate → Determinant of J-shaped growth form.

• Density-dependent factor (Intrinsic): Its effect


on population is a function of population
density.
– Biotic factors (self-crowding, competition,
parasites, pathogens) → Determinants of S-
shaped growth form.
Density-dependent Regulation in Plants

• Log of average plant weight (y-axis;


grams) plotted against log of population
density (x-axis; plants per m2) → Line with
a slope of -3/2;

• Self-thinning or -3/2 power law.

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