A population can be defined as a group of
Age Distribution - Number of individuals of
individuals of the same species inhabiting an
area.
* Just as individuals within a population
are recognizable, different populations of the
same species have specific characteristics that
distinguish them from one another. Some
important ways in which populations differ
include natality (birthrate), mortality (death rate),
sex ratio, age distribution, growth rates, density,
and spatial distribution *
 Population Characteristics
1. Natality - Number of individuals added
through reproduction.
- Birth Rate (Humans Born / 1,000)
2 ways:
Sexual Reproduction- combining genetic
material from 2 parents.
Asexual Reproduction- produces offspring
genetically identical to one parent
2. Mortality - Number of individuals removed via
death.
- Death Rate (Humans Died / 1,000)
* Another way to view mortality is to view how
likely it is that an offspring will survive to a
specific age. One way of visualizing this is with a
survivorship curve. *
Survivorship Curve- Shows proportion of
individuals likely to survive to each age.
- High mortality in young.
- Mortality equitable among age classes.
- Mortality high only in old age.
3. Sex Ratio- Relative number of males and
females in a population.
- Females determine the number of offspring
produced in sexually reproducing populations.
- 105 boys to 100 girls
4.
each age in the population.
- Greatly influences population growth rate.
5. Population Density - Number of individuals
per unit area.
* When the population density is too great, all
individuals within the population are injured
because they compete severely with each other
for necessary resources. *
Dispersal - Movement of individuals from
densely populated locations to new areas.
Emigration - Movement from an area.
Immigration - Movement into an area.
 Factors that influence growth rates
 Population Growth Curve- Population
growth often follows a particular pattern,
consisting of a lag phase, an exponential
growth phase, a deceleration phase, and a
stable equilibrium phase
Lag Phase - First portion of the curve; slow
population growth.
Exponential Growth Phase (Log Phase)- More
organisms reproducing causing accelerated
growth; continues as long as birth rate exceeds
death rate. *Currently*
Stable Equilibrium Phase - Death rate and birth
rate equilibrate; population stops growing.
 Carrying Capacity- is the maximum
sustainable population for an area. The
carrying capacity is determined by a set
of limiting factors.
Environmental Resistance - Any factor (limiting
factor) in the environment limiting carrying
capacity.
Four main factors:
1. Raw Material Availability- feedstock,
substance or materials used in manufacturing
primary production of foods. (i.e. oil, wood, iron)
2. Energy Availability- Energy sources are
important to all organisms. Plants require energy
in the form of sunlight for photosynthesis, so the
amount of light can be a limiting factor for many
plants
3. Waste Accumulation and Disposal- the
collection, processing or deposition of waste
materials.
4. Organism Interactions- organisms occupy
niches. Their interaction can be characterized into
5 types of relationship: competition, predation,
commensalism, mutualism and parasitism.

 Reproductive Strategies and Population

Fluctuations- Not all species reach a
stable carrying capacity.
2 ways:
1. K-strategist- usually occupy relatively stable
environments and tend to be large organisms that
have relatively long lives, produce few offspring,
and provide care for their offspring
- Density-dependent limiting factors are those
that become more effective as the density of the
population increases.
2. R-strategist- The reproductive strategy of r-
strategists is to expend large amounts of energy
producing many offspring but to provide limited
care (often none) for them.
- Density-independent limiting factors are
population controlling influences that are not
related to the density of the population. (i.e.
climate, floods, fire)
* which K represents the carrying capacity of the
environment and r represents the biotic potential
of the species. *

 Human Population Growth- increased in

the no. of individuals in a population.