The Two Laws of

Population Ecology Examining the

Second Law of
1. All (and I mean all)
populations have the capacity Population Biology
to grow to infinite numbers.

2. _________________

____________________ ____________________
Perhaps the World’s Oldest Ecological Theory
Originally:
“Perhaps no phenomenon of life ... is more Fixed number of Species
remarkable than the steady balance of organic Fixed density of Populations
nature, which holds each species within the limits of
a uniform average number, year after year,
although each one is always doing its best to break
across boundaries on every side.” Whether because of God or Nature,
widespread belief that the world is
Stephen A. Forbes, _______, and therefore ___________.
The Lake as a Microcosm (1887)

The Dynamics of a Population When the Birth Rate Equals the Death
Rate,
A Population will ______ if
Inputs are greater than Outputs
In Systems Terminology we would say
A Population will if the population is at ________________.
Inputs are Less Than Outputs
In Population Terminology, we say that
the population is at _________________

1
 Carrying Capacity has two As a population reaches Carrying
Capacity (K), it levels off.
similar definitions
The point where Density at K

Density
Births + Immigration = Deaths + Emigration
(Emphasis on Population Dynamics)

The maximum population density that an

environment can support indefinitely: How
many individuals can a given habitat carry?
(Emphasis on the resources available for
growth)
Time
This produces a Sigmoidal (S) Curve, also
called a ____________ Curve

Pierre ____________
(1804 - 1849) Why Do Populations Level Off?
Belgian mathematician
originated the equation
describing the sigmoidal 1. Density ______________ Factors
curve and called it the
“logistic.”
2. Density ______________ Factors
3. A Combination of Both
Died young and equation
lost until 1920, when re-
discovered by Pearl and
Reed.

Density ____________
Density _____________ Factors
Fluctuations
Factors that kill a ____________ of the 60
population no matter what the density:
Windstorms, 40
Density

Floods,
20
Hurricanes,
Tornadoes,
0
Volcanoes, 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Unexpected Weather Time

2
 Density ____________ Factors 1. Decreases in ___________

Intensity of Factor _______ as 1. Food Related: Less Food, Fewer Offspring

the Density _________ Intrauterine mortality, non-viable eggs

1. Decreases in Birth Rate

Fecundity
2. Increases in Death Rate
3. Changes in Emigration Rate

Larval Density

Decreases in Birth Rate

Decreases in Birth Rate 3. __________________
2. ______________________ 4. ___________________
Only one male
Inability to Reproduce and one female in
Non-Suitable Locations the group breed;
the others help to
capture the food
and protect the
young

Decreases in Birth Rate 2. Increases in Death Rate

3. Behavior-Related Fecundity Control 1. Survival of the Young
____________: Defended Space
2. Increased ________, __________

Only those organisms that hold the territory will 3. __________-Related Mortality
1) Breed Exclusion from optimum
2) Find sufficient food or other resources to rear young
3) Survive adverse conditions
habitats
Hoarding

3
 Density Control in the
______________ Red Grouse Do not have a
_____________________
Group I: _____________, Near zero mortaility of
adult breeding population

Group II: “surplus” population: _____________,

but replace dead Group I birds. Low winter
mortality.

Group III: Transients: Driven off moors by other

birds. Live in less than optimal habitat. Non-
breeding. ______ winter mortality

______ and
A-Periodic Chitty-Krebs Think It Involves
Populations __________
Decreased Food or Increased Density

Many rodents,
such as Increased “Stress”
(Hans Selye: General
lemmings & ___________________)
voles exhibit Increased
Aggressiveness
___________
population ___________
explosions Decreased Density
Voles (Microtus and Clethrionomys) at
Kilpisja¨rvi, northern Finland (Laine and Henttonen 1983, Hanski et al. 1993).

Some Attribute the Cycles to Sunspots Predation:

___________________________

___________ Control: Densities are determined

by factors from outside the Population
Examples: Seasonal Cycles, Sunspot cycles Fluctuations in food supply or food quality
Animals “track” availability of food

4
 __________ is the
Population Densities Go Up
Ultimate Limit On
and Down For Many Reasons
Population Growth
• Dangerous to infer that all populations are
stable
• Life at Carrying Capacity isn’t necessary
all that nice:
•Deaths = Births
At some density, all •High Deaths = High Births is as effective
population growth is halted as Low Death = Low Birth
by Birth, Death, or
Migration-related factors

Conclusions
• No population grows without limits

• The factors that limit growth can vary.

• Factors can affect birth rate, death rate, or

emigration rate

• Factors can be related to food supply, disease,

parasitism, and predation.

• Physical factors (availability of nest sites) or

behavioral traits may be involved.