WMSU-ISMP-GU-003.

00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

ACTIVITY 1

Population Dispersion

I. Introduction

The dispersion of individuals in a population describes

their spacing relative to each other. Different species, and frequently different
populations of the same species, can exhibit drastically different population
dispersions. The way individuals are distributed in a population can frequently
provide information critical to understanding the life history traits of the population
and/or about the environment of that species habitat. Generally dispersion can follow
one of three basic patterns: random, uniform (also called evenly spaced or hyper-
dispersed), and clumped (also called aggregated or contagious). Notably,
movements within a population are referred to as dispersal while movements
between populations are referred to as emigration or immigration. Both affect
population dispersion.

II. Objectives

At the end of this activity, students should be able to:

1. Determine the dispersion pattern of the species under study.

2. Differentiate dispersion pattern of the different species in both study sites
3. Identify possible factors in the differences of dispersion pattern of
each species.

III. Concept/s Explanation

Population dispersion is commonly quantified by population ecologists. For

students, it is important then to be able to know the concept of population dispersion
before going out of the lab and do actual observation and data gathering.

It is important to consider that different species have different dispersion

pattern like plants and animals. With mobile organisms (i.e. most animals), this
requires intensive sampling, often involving mark-recapture, and identification of
such parameters. Plants have different dispersion patterns as well since they are
sessile. In this activity, we will focused on the dispersion pattern of plants.

Analyses of population dispersion patterns usually follow a standard method

in which the observed patterns are compared to predictions of random
dispersion. Departures from the predicted pattern will suggest that the population
under study exhibits either a uniform or clumped dispersion pattern.

IV. Work/Practice Exercise

1- Choose tw0 (2) different sites, one within the campus (a site that has recently
been cleared of vegetation), and the other one near your house vicinity with
natural habitation.

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Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

2- Measure a 20 m x 20 m quadrat in both sites which will served as your

sampling area (Figure 1)
3- Within the sampling area, establish 25 of 4mx 4m quadrats
4- Identify three particular plant species and record the number.
5- Tabulate your data and enter in Table I and 2 on your worksheet.
6- Make a dot map( Figure 2) to show the dispersion pattern in Figure 3 and 4 on
your worksheet (show different colours to represent the three different plant
species) Discuss results.
7- Repeat procedure 1-6 for site 2.
8- Accomplish worksheet at the end of this activity.

4m

4m

20m

20m

Figure 1. Sampling Area

Figure 2. Dot Map of the Sampling Area

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