Study Guide for Population Test (Chapters 5.3 and 6)

Chapter 5 Section 3

Be able to explain the characteristics of population dynamics: size, density, dispersion and age structure. Know which of the dispersion patterns is most common and why.
Be able to define exponential growth and draw a graph showing exponential growth. Be able to define biotic potential and know that intrinsic growth rate (r) is the rate at which a species would grow under ideal conditions (“curvature of exponential growth”).
Be able to define logistic growth and draw a logistic growth curve. Be able to define carrying capacity (K) and environmental resistance. Be able to explain that carrying capacity is not a fixed quantity, and can change with an increase or decrease in a limiting factor.
Know three revolutions that greatly increased the earth’s carrying capacity for the human population. Be able to explain reproductive time lags and how they might affect the growth curve (overshoot of carrying capacity). Know the effects of positive and negative feedback loops on population growth.
Be able to define and give examples of density-dependent and density independent population controls.
Be able to define common patterns of growth: stable, irruptive, irregular, and cyclic (boom and bust cycles).
Be able to give the characteristics of the two major reproductive strategies: r-strategists and K-strategists and be able to give examples of each. Know the advantages and disadvantages of each, and their typical roles in the process of succession. Also, know how these strategies relate to survivorship curves.
Chapter 6
Be able to define immigration and emigration. Know the formula to calculate population change. Know that crude birth and death rates are given per 1000 people.
Know basic demographic stats: world population 7.3 billion, China = largest population but will be surpassed by India by 2050, China and India make up >1.3 of the world’s population, US population is >320,000,000 and 3rd largest population (although a distant third to China and India, and will be surpassed by Nigeria before 2050).
Be able to define replacement-level fertility rate. Be able to explain why the replacement fertility rateis higher in developing nations (2.5) compared to developed nations (2.1).
Be able to define total fertility rate (TFR). Know total fertility rates: world- 2.9, developed nations-1.9, developing nations- 3.3. Be able to explain why reaching replacement-level fertility rate would not stop global population growth until about 50 years had passed, assuming death rates do not rise. (Population Momentum)
Be able to list factors that can affect the birth rate and fertility rate of a country. (Notes + textbook p. 128)
Know which continent has the highest and lowest population growth rates and infant mortality rates.
Know what category the following continents fall into in terms of whether most of their countries are developed, developing, or underdeveloped: Africa, Central and South America, and Europe.
Know what life expectancy and infant mortality rate say about the health of a nation.
Know the prereproductive, reproductive and postreproductive age ranges. Be able to interpret age structure diagrams (i.e. population pyramids), including the how the shape of the age structure diagram correlates to population growth rates and can be predictors of future populations sizes.
Be able to explain the demographic transition model: know the typical patterns of birth and death rates in the preindustrial (stage 1), transitional (stage 2), industrial (stage 3) and postindustrial (stage 4) periods and the factors that influence any birth/death rate changes. Know how the relative changes in birth and death rates correlate to population growth rates during these different phases.
Understand what stages underdeveloped, developing, and developed nations are in the demographic transition model.
Be able to describe the roles of family planning, reduction of poverty, elevating the status of women, and other factors in slowing population growth. Be able to describe China and India’s efforts to control their population growth. Understand how cultural and religious beliefs can affect nations’ efforts to slow population growth (i.e. Philippines).
Understand the effect of AIDS on populations, population growth, and the shape of population pyramids in AIDS-affected sub-Saharan nations in Africa.
Be able to describe the history of specific population issues (past, present, and future) for each of the following nations: US, Japan, China, Russia, India, Nigeria. Depending on the country, these are factors that you may need to discuss: Growth rates (both past and present) and reasons for them, immigration, population bulges (i.e. baby boom), efforts to control or direct growth, and issues that occur due to population pressures (either positive and negative growth).
Understand the effect of a growing world population on world hunger. Know what the green revolution is and the limitations of the green revolution on solving food shortage issues.
Know UN predictions for population growth by 2050, how demographics are changing for developed, developing and underdeveloped nations.

Population Calculation Activity:

Be able to determine the doubling time using the rule of 70. Rule of 70 formula will not be given. Remember to use the growth rate as a percentage in this formula.
Know the quantities represented by the following variables: k = rate of increase (use as a decimal for the exponential growth rate formula), t = time (typically in years), N = final population number, No= original population, e= the constant 2.71828 (don’t have to memorize- will be using calculators).
Given the formulas: N= No ekt k = (1/t)ln(N/No) t = (1/k)ln(N/No) be able to calculate final population sizes, growth rates, or time it will take a population to reach a certain size.
Population Estimation Lab :Be able to explain how to estimate the size of a population by mark and recapture (know formula). Be able to explain why the sample must be randomly selected, and know some design considerations in making sure sample is randomly selected.