Chapter 35: Population and Community Ecology

Concept 35.1: A population is a local group of organisms of one species

I. Defining Populations

  1. A populations size is determined by the availability of food and space, weather conditions, and breeding patterns
  2. When scientists study populations they must determine its boundaries, such a lake, a state or the whole country

II. Population Density

  1. Population Density is the number of individuals of a particular species per unit of area or volume
  2. Population density is useful when comparing two populations in different areas

III. Sampling Techniques

  1. Since it is impossible to count every member of a population scientists use sampling techniques to estimate the size of a population
  2. Quadrats- scientists mark off a square boundary at several locations and take an average
  3. Indirect Counting- counting nests, burrows or tracks instead of the organisms themselves
  4. Mark-Recapture- scientists trap and mark individuals
  5. Most sampling techniques involve making assumptions about the populations being studied

Concept 35.2 -There are limits to population growth

I. Exponential Growth of Populations

  1. A population’s ability to grow partly depends on the rate at which its organisms can reproduce
  2. Exponential Growth is when the population multiplies at a constant factor at constant time intervals i.e. bacteria doubling every 20 minutes

II. Carrying Capacity

  1. A population may start to grow exponentially, but eventually one or more environmental factors will limit its growth
  2. A limiting factor is a condition that can restrict a population’s growth
  3. The carrying capacity is the number of organisms in a population that the environment can maintain or “carry”

III. Factors Affecting Population Growth

  1. Density Dependent Factors is a factor that limits a population more as a population density increases
  1. Density-Independent Factors are factors that limit population but are unrelated to population density

IV. Population Growth Cycles

  1. A “boom” and “bust” growth cycle is one that increases rapidly followed by a sharp decline
  2. Other growth cycles are influenced by those of other populations in their environments

Concept 35.3-Biologists are trying to predict the impact of human population growth

I. History of Global Population Growth

  1. For most of human history, the human population has grown very slowly or not at all
  2. Human population growth depends on birth rates and death rates
  3. The introduction of farming has provided a stable food supply so birth rates have gone up
  4. Advances in modern medicine, nutrition and sanitation have caused death rates to go down
  5. These factors have caused the human population to increase dramatically

II. Predicting Future Population Growth

A.The Age Structure of a population is the

proportion of people in different age groups

B.Prediction of future growth varies because of the difficulty predicting future birth and death rates of various countries

C.The question remains whether or not Earth will have the capacity for the human population

Concept 35.4-Species interact in biological communities

I. Competition Between Species

  1. Members of a population may compete for the same limited resource
  2. Within a community, interspecific competition takes place when two or more species rely on the same limited resource
  3. If two species are so similar in their requirements that the same resource limits both species’ growth it is called competitive exclusion
  1. A niche includes an organisms living place, its food source, the time of day it is most active and many other factors that are specific to that organism’s way of life

II. Predation

  1. Predation is when one organism eats another
  2. Eating and avoiding being eaten are important to survival and predators and prey have developed many adaptations
  3. Predator adaptations include: being fast and agile, coloring that camouflages, hunting in groups, acute sense to find prey and having claws, teeth, fangs and stingers to help catch prey
  4. Prey adaptations include: retreating or fleeing from predators, camouflage, defensive coloring, mimicry, secreting poisonous chemicals, having spines and thorns

III. Symbiotic Relationships

  1. A symbiotic relationship is when two species live in or on one another
  2. There are three main types of symbiotic relationships
  3. Parasitism- A parasite gets it’s food at the expense of another organism, i.e. mosquitos and humans
  4. Mutualism- Both organism benefit from the relationship, i.e. E.Coliand humans
  5. Commensalism- One organism benefits and the other is neither hurt nor helped, i.e. sharks and remoras

Concept 35.5-Disturbances are common in communities

I. Disturbances to Communities

  1. Natural Disturbances are events such as fires, volcanic eruptions, floods, storms, and droughts all destroy resources such as shelter and water
  2. Disturbances can be either positive or negative
  3. Humans also have an impact on communities which can be either positive or negative

II. Ecological Succession

  1. The series of changes in the species in a community, often following a disturbance is known as ecological succession
  2. There are two types of succession:
  3. Primary succession which is when new community arises from a previously lifeless area i.e. plants growing on a volcanic island
  4. Secondary succession is when a new community arises from a previous community i.e. a forested area which has been cleared and abandoned

III. Human Activities and Species Diversity

  1. 60% of the Earth’s land is used by humans, mainly for cropland or rangeland
  2. Humans usually have a negative effect on species in two ways
  3. Clearing the Land- Humans clear vast amounts of land to make way for farming and building
  4. Introduced Species are species that are moved from one location to another either accidentally or on purpose. These new species may take over an area and prey on native species or drive them from their niches