AP Biology Notes Ch.

45 Population Ecology
45.1 Characteristics of Populations Every population has gene pool, evolutionary history, characteristic size, density, distribution, and number Population size: # of individuals that actually/potentially contribute to gene pool Age structure: # of individuals in each age category Reproductive base: pre-reproductive and reproductive groups of a population Multiple species in same area typically compete for energy, space, etc. (interspecific interactions), influences pop density and dispersal in habitat Typical distribution patterns: clumped, nearly uniform, and random (clumped is most common) Clumped is most common because specific environmental conditions needed for a species are rarely dispersed through the entire habitat Nearly uniform is caused by fierce competition for resources/territory Random is when habitat conditions are nearly uniform, resources are reliable, and individuals of a population dont attract or avoid each other 45.2 Elusive Heads to Count Quadrats: sampling areas of same size and shape (rectangles, squares, etc.) Using quadrats is faster than counting individuals of a species, used for sedentary species Capture-recapture methods: used on mobile animals such as deer, birds, and fish (collars, tags, tattoos, wing markings etc.) Capture-recapture methods can be disrupted by several variables such as death, trap shyness, loss of collar, tag, etc.

45.3 Population Size and Exponential Growth Population increases from births and immigration Population decreases from deaths and emigration Migration: a recurring round trip between two distinct regions Zero population growth: an interval in which number of births is balanced by number of deaths Per capita: per individual (variables that might change population size are measured this way) Net reproduction per individual per unit time (r): combines death and birth rate to determine the growth of a population Exponential growth: any quantity that is growing at a rate proportional to its size

Doubling time: time it takes for a population to double in size Death rate slows but does not stop exponential growth as long as it is less that birth rate Biotic potential: maximum rate of increase per individual of a population that grows under ideal conditions

45.4 Limits on the Growth of Populations Limiting factor: an essential resource in short supply Carrying capacity: the maximum number of individuals of a population that an environment can sustain indefinitely Density-dependant controls: how it affects a population depends on density of population (diseases, parasites, etc.) Density-independent factors: cause more deaths or fewer births regardless of population density (extreme weather conditions)

45.5 Life History Patterns Life history pattern: set of adaptations that influence survival, fertility, etc. Cohort: a group of individuals recorded from time of birth till the last one dies Dividing population into age classes and taking note of survivorship, reproduction, etc. helps us to better understand how they are affected and how they affect the environment Survivorship curve: a graph line that plots a cohorts age-specific survival in the habitat Three curve types: Type 1: reflect high survivorship until fairly later in life, then large increase in deaths (typical of human populations with good healthcare) Type 2: reflect fairly constant death rate during all ages (typical of lizards, small mammals, and large birds), organisms just as likely to be killed by disease at any age Type 3: death rate is highest at early point in life, characterizes species that produce lots of small offspring and do little to no parenting.

45.6 Natural Selection and Life Histories The guppy group being studied is preyed upon by A) killfish (eat young guppies) and B) pike-cichlids (eat older mature guppies)

Guppies in pike-cichlid ponds grow faster and are smaller at maturity, reproduce more often and earlier, and produce more offspring (relative to killfish ponds) Conclusion found by experiment: Differences between guppies preyed upon by different predators have a genetic foundation and therefore are subject to natural selection. Life history traits can be inherited through natural selection

45.7 Human Population Growth Human population growth is already straining the capacity of the Earth to support life Three things contributed to rapid population about 1000 yrs ago: Development of ability to expand to new habitats and climate zones Increase in carrying capacity of existing habitats Sidestepping limiting factors that restrain growth of species (cures and medicine) Advanced brain, tool making, language to pass on information, etc., contributed to human population expanding into diverse environments faster than other species Domestication of plants and animals and a settled life style also helped increase population of humans Most important was management of agriculture and food supply through chemicals and other means of increasing carrying capacity of a region Medicines and sewage systems helped greatly in combating diseases in dense cities (sidestepping the limiting factors) Continued growth as a result of these factors cannot continue indefinitely

45.8 Fertility Rates and Age structure Total fertility rate: average number of children born to women of a population during reproductive years more than one-third of world population is in broad pre-reproductive base

45.9 Population Growth and Economic Effects demographic transition model: illustrates that population growth rate changes often are connected with four stages of economic development preindustrial: living conditions are harshest, before tech and medical, high birth and death rates, low growth rate

transitional: beginning of industrialization, food production and health care improve, death rates decrease, births are high, as living improves birth rate begins to decline, growth usually levels off industrial: industrialization in full force and growth slows, migrations to cities, small families postindustrial: population growth become negative, birth rate falls below death rate, population size slowly decreases most modern countries (US, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.) are in industrial stage developing countries (Mexico) in transitional stage, but lack enough workers to complete transition into industrial stage even with all our technology, most of the population will not endure the limiting factors of our environment (WERE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!)