LSM2251 Ecology & the Environment Populations II

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus

PART II. POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE (CONTD)

Populations I
Contd
II - Population distribution and abundance
[Molles 4/5th Edn - Chapter 9]

4. What is a population? 5. Environmental limits to species distribution 6. Distribution patterns 7. Applications to conservation - rarity

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6. Distribution patterns
Regular, Random and clumped
on di st ri b u ti on a n d a b un da n ce Po p ul ati

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How are populations distributed?

Small scale and large scale

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6.1 Patterns on a small scale

Small-scale phenomena Small distances over which there is little environmental change signicant to the population under study. Distribution patterns inuenced by (i) interactions between individuals within a population (attract, repel or ignore), (ii) the structure of the physical environment (patchy nutrients, nesting, water source, etc) (ii) or by a combination of both

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Distribution patterns
Small-scale patterns as a result of social interaction, and the physical environment: Random, Regular and Clumped
Think of the distribution of a bee species in a specic area,
e.g. the Carpenter bee in Kent Ridge forested area, NUS

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Distribution of tropical bee colonies

Hubbell & Johnson (1977)
Physical environment was not limiting There were more than enough potential nest sites Aggressive bees Was the distribution regular or random? Non-aggressive bees Was the distribution regular or random?

Fit prediction?
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Distribution of tropical bee colonies

Hubbell & Johnson (1977)

Small-scale patterns as a result of social interaction

Fit prediction!
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6.2 Patterns on a large scale

Large-scale phenomena Areas over which there is substantial environmental change, inuencing the population under study, e.g. across a continent. Are there hot spots? (Conservation question)

Winter distribution of the American crow, Corvus brachyrynchos

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Hotspot concept applied to all of biodiversity as a conservation strategy:

44% of vascular plants and 35% of four vertebrate groups are conned to 25 hotspots comprising only 1.4% of the Earths land surface

Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities Norman Myers, Russell A. Mittermeier, Cristina G. Mittermeier, Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca and Jennifer Kent Nature 403, 853-858(24 February 2000)
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Hotspot: Sundaland

http://www.conservation.org/explore/priority_areas/ hotspots/asia-pacic/Sundaland/Pages/default.aspx
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7. Applications to conservation
Understanding rarity
on si ze, ada p tati on a n d di st ri b u ti on Po p ul ati

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Rabinowitzs seven forms of rarity

Combination of: geographic range: habitat tolerance: population size:

small vs large

extensive vs restricted broad versus narrow

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Example of rarity: Tiger

Rarity: geographic range:

extensive broad small

habitat tolerance: population size:

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Tiger distribution, Malaysia (DWNP)

geographic range: habitat tolerance: population size:

small
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extensive broad

Example of rarity: Tasmanian Devil

Rarity: geographic range:

restricted broad small

habitat tolerance: population size:

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Example of rarity: Mountain Gorilla

Rarity: geographic range:

restricted narrow small

habitat tolerance: population size:

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Population distribution data alone is insufcient

Crisis affecting Tasmanian devils will affect species survival status

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http://www.iucnredlist.org/

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Straw-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus)

Widespread in Pulau Ubin Global population estimate 10-20,000 Population trend: decreasing Distribution: Southeast Asia Status:Vulnerable.
The population is declining rapidly across its range due to high levels of trapping for the cagebird trade, compounded by habitat loss within their rather specic habitat type.

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[Molles 4/5th Edn - Chapters 10-12]

Populations II

Part III - Population dynamics Part IV - Population Growth Part V - Life History Classication

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POPULATIONS PART III. POPULATION DYNAMICS

Populations are not static but dynamic. Factors affecting expansion, decline and maintenance of populations

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8. Dispersal
Dispersal into or out of populations.

Po p ul ati on D y n am ic s

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Dispersal

Dispersal into = increase (immigration) or

dispersal out of = decrease (emigration) in a population mechanisms

Adult, seed/larval populations may differ in

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8.1 Dispersal of expanding populations - Eurasian collared dove

The expansion across Europe took place in small jumps Mating adults are mostly sedentary

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8.1 Dispersal of expanding populations - Eurasian collared dove

Comparison of rates of expansion

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8.2 Dispersal in response to resource availability

Factors affecting distribution

Speed due to biology Prey supply

Kestrel & Owl density vs Voles Voles populations uctuated Predators moved around to nd prey populations Synchronicity due to migration
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9. Patterns of survival
Estimating cohort survival
Po p ul ati on D y n am ic s

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Estimating life history

Cohort life table: record birth to death - hard work! Static life table: record death-ages of a large number of individuals - estimation based on assumptions about age of dead individuals. Useful in species with seasonal growth spurts. Age distribution: identify cohort sizes (i.e. assume no immigration, emigration, differences in age classes due to death etc; may be a weak estimate)
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Life table

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How would you describe this graph?

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2.2 Patterns of survival

Survival types: High survival amongst the young (die old) Constant rate of survival High mortality amongst the young (die young)

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Constant rate of decline

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How would you describe this graph?

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High rate of survival in which age groups?

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Survivorship Types
Convex Constant Concave

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10. Age distributions

History, rates, trends, predictions
Po p ul ati on D y n am ic s

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10.1 What can age structure of a species population predict?

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Does this population have long-term viability? What does the age structure predict?

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What does this age structure show?

3. Conclusion - what does this age structure suggest?
1. Observation - what dominates?

2. Observation what is absent?

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Mandai mangrove, Singapore

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Mandai mangrove, Singapore

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Mandai mudats and horseshoe crabs

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10.2 What can age structure of a species population reveal?

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Grant & Grant (1989) - Galpagos Islands

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Grant & Grant (1989) - Galpagos Islands

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POPULATIONS PART IV. POPULATION GROWTH

Geometric

and Exponential growth growth

Exponential Logistic Limits

curve

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12. Geometric and exponential growth

Po p ul ati on G ro w th

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12.1Geometric growth
Rate of increase = N1/N0 N2 = N1 x Rate of increase N3 = N2 x Rate of increase 2 = N1 x Rate of increase

Grow in pulses

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12.1Geometric growth

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12.2 Exponential growth associated with colonisation

Continuous growth in an unlimited environment

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13. Logistic population growth

Resource limitation
Po p ul ati on G ro w th

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13. Logistic population growth

As resources are depleted, population growth rate slows and eventually stops
i.e. Exponential growth is limited!

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13.1 Logistic curve

Exponential growth is limited! Same curve for paramecium, barnacle larvae settlement, buffalo population examples

Sigmoid or S-shaped curve of resource-limited growth

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What limits populations

Barnacles - space on rocks for attachment African buffalo - disease, grass availability Yeast - availability of sugar in immediate
environment

Remember the Extinction game? Intraspecic competition [next lecture]

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13.2 Logistic equation

dN = rmax N(1- N ) dt K
Describes the rate of increase of a resource-limited population

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13.2 Logistic equation population

change in population number change in time number

dN = rmax N(1- N ) dt K
intrinsic growth rate carrying capacity

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What happens to the curve when N << K ?

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What happens to the curve when N ~~ K ?

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Human Growth Rate

Po p u lat io n G ro w t h?

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14. Limitations on growth

Po p ul ati on G ro w th

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How does climate affect populations?

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El Nio: global biological impacts - terrestrial ecosystems

Coupling of Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) population levels to El Nio. Drought/scarcity of food conditions:

High mortality rate of embryos/young. Reproductive rate drops or cessation of breeding.

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Malayan Sun Bear in Borneo

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Sun bears starve

The 1997/8 El Nino event resulted in a severe and prolonged haze which led to the local extinction of g wasps. In the absence of pollinators g, trees aborted their fruits in 1999 [Rhett Harrison, 2000]. Orang utans resorted to other food sources like young shoots and plant sap. Famine in Sabah and Kalimantan for frugivores.
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Sun bears starve

Sun bears and bearded pigs starved. Orang utans resorted to other food sources like young shoots and plant sap. Wong Siew Te: all six radio-collared sun bears were emaciated and two died. This is suspected to be a reason for the very low density of large animals in Bornean rainforests."
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 Bearded pigs and Sun bears in Kalimantan

and Sabah starved to death in 1999.

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POPULATIONS PART V. LIFE HISTORY CLASSIFICATION

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 r and K selection: (MacArthur & Wilson,

1967; Pianka, 1970; 1972)

15. Life History classication

r-selected: selection favouring a higher K-selected: organism living closer to

population growth rate - colonists; type 3 survivorship; small, fast (also many marine invertebrates) carrying capacity - competition; type 1 or 2 survivorship; large, slow
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