ECOLOGY EXAM.

DEMOGRAPHICS MODULE

1. Definition of concepts.

a. Population.

This term refers to a group of individuals of the same species that is found in a given
habitat and functions as a reproductive community. Populations are characterized by
having individuals closely linked by their genetic characteristics, being adapted to a given
environment, and differing by these adaptations to different populations of the same
species, but being potentially reproductive among themselves. In general terms, a
population is made up of individuals of the same species that can potentially reproduce
among themselves, leaving fertile offspring, and that share the same ecological niche in
a given time and space.

Tweed EJ, Foster JT, Woodworth BL, Monahan WB, Kellerman JL, and Liverman A. 2006. Breeding biology
and success of a reintroduced population of the critically endangered puaiohi (Myadestes palmeri).
The American Ornithologists Union. The Auk 123(3):753-763.

From Rua PJ Galián, J. Serrano and RFA Moritz. 2001. Molecular characterization and population of
honeybees from the Balearic islands (Spain). Apidologie 32 (2001):1-11.

Sagun-Castelanos J. and F. Garcia-Mezano. 2009. The inbreeding coefficient of a population under mass
selection. Agriscience 43:119-132.

b. Demography.

A fundamental part in the analysis of the viability of populations is related to the

estimation of demographic trends. In addition, research focused on population dynamics
also provides insight into life history evolutionary strategies by species and populations
under different ecological settings. Estimating demographic parameters is the first step
when characterizing a life history for which you want to understand the ecological and
evolutionary causes of variation.

Zuñiga-Vega JJ, FR Mendez-de la Cruz, and O. Cuellar. 2008. Demography of the lizard Sceloporus
grammicus: Exploring temporal variations in population dynamics. Dog. J. Zool. Vol 86:1397-1409.

c. reproductive value.

Rabinovich (1972), expresses the Reproductive Value term in an equation, thus:

Vx = Number of female offspring produced at this time by females of x or older

Number of females that are X age at this time

In this case, the concept Vx (Reproductive Value) is developed in terms of generational

lapses, that is, comparing population changes from one generation to the next.

Rabinovich JE 1972. Reproductive Value: a useful population parameter in the control of harmful insects.
Acta Biol. Venez. 8(1): 25-34.
 d. Fitness.

The term Fitness refers, in animals, to the quality of health of the organism. Thus, the
propensity of an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment; thus,
natural selection will favor those variants with high fitness. However, determining fitness
is not easy, and measures such as energy over time or fertility rates are used.
Arnqvist G., R. Thornhill, and L. Rowe. 1997. Evolution of animal genitalia: morphological correlates of
fitness components in a water strider. J.evol. biol. 10 (1997): 613–640.
Foerster K, T Coulson, BC Sheldon, JM Pemberton, TH Clutton-Brock, and LEB Kruuk. 2007. Sexually
antagonistic genetic variation for fitness in red deer. Nature Vol. 447: 1107-1111

e. Competitive Exclusion.

The term competitive exclusion refers to competition between two species for the same
resource or habitat. Thus, if the resource for which both species compete is constant,
the two species will not be able to coexist, one will tend to exclude the other, and may
cause a modification in the behavior of the excluded one, having to adapt to a new
ecological niche. , or probably causing a local extinction.

Rankin DJ, A. López-Sepulcre, KR Foster, and H. Kokko. 2007. Species-level selection reduces selfishness
through competitive exclusion. journal compilation; European society for evolutionary biology; The
authors 20: 1459-1468.
Tayeb IT, PA Nehme, LS Jaber, and EK Barbour. 2006. Competitive exclusion against Salmonella Enteritidis
in layer chickens by yogurt microbiota: impact on egg production, protection and yolk-antibody and
cholesterol levels. journal compilation; The Society for Applied Microbiology, Journal of Applied
Microbiology 102 (2007) 1330–1336
Roy S. and J. Chattopadhyay. 2006. Toxin-allelopathy among phytoplankton Species prevents
competitive exclusion. Journal of Biological Systems, Vol. 15, No. 1 (2007):73–93.
2. Commentary on an article on population demography.

“Demography and nesting ecology of the green iguana,iguana iguana, (Scuamata:

Iguanidae), in two exploited populations in the Momposina depression, Colombia”

The green iguana (Iguana iguana), which is distributed from Mexico to Paraguay, is listed
as a threatened species (Appendix II of CITES), in part due to exploitation for human
consumption, mainly females whose eggs are highly valued, even more than their meat,
and due to the destruction of their habitat, as native forests are cut down for use in
livestock and agriculture, a factor that has a direct influence (due to the death of animals
due to logging and burning) and indirectly (reduction of habitat ).

The study was carried out in the Momposina depression, northwestern Colombia (5
meters below sea level). No significant differences were found between the density of
iguanas at the work sites. It was found that the density of iguanas was higher on the
banks of the rivers. In contrast, no association between relative abundance index and
site or habitat type was evident. Although there was also no relationship between the
estimation of the density of iguanas per hectare and the relative abundance index for the
work sites, the relative abundance data were analyzed to contrast the sites in terms of
their demographic composition (sex ratios and age classes). ), resulting in a lower ratio
of males to females in the study areas, approaching 1:2.5.

Little nest predation by other vertebrates was also found, however it is assumed that the
few hatches are caused by cattle trampling, introduced domestic animals, and human
hunting. And it is concluded that the reduced size of clutches has probably been
produced by the high hunting pressure to which these populations have been subjected.

Muños EM, AM Ortega, BC Bock and VP Páez. 2003. Demography and nesting ecology of the green iguana,
Iguana iguana, (Scuamata: Iguanidae), in two exploited populations in the Momposina depression,
Colombia. Rev. Biol. Trop. 51(1): 229-240.
3. Comment on article on predation.

“Predispersive predation of seeds offabiana imbricata(Solanaceae), a shrub from

northwestern Patagonia”

This article studies the interaction between Fabiana imbricata, a shrub no larger than 3
meters that extends from Chile to Argentina, with a hymenopteran that preys on its seeds
to observe the effect of this insect on seed production. The study was carried out to the
east of the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. The degree of seed predation by the insect
was found to be within normal ranges (48% of predated seeds). Because the size of the
seeds is very small (the larger the seed, the greater the chance of success of the
seedling), the predation of the seeds by the insect could be important only during the first
post-fire events.

Gittins C., MP Chartier, L. Ghermandi, and N. Guthmann. 2003. Predispersive seed predation of Fabiana
imbricata (Solanaceae), a shrub from northwestern Patagonia. Austral Ecology 13:121-126.
4. Article comment on competition.

“Lecheron (Euphorbia dentata) competition in soybeans”

Euphorbia dentataIt is a highly resistant weed to chemical treatments, which has been
characterized as a weed in sija, sunflower and corn. This article tries to evaluate the
effect of weed densities on soybean biomass and crop yield components.

The studies were carried out in a province of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1997/98 and
1998/99, in plots with a high infestation of Euphorbia dentata, resulting that even at low
densities, the Euphorbia dentata weed considerably decreases the productivity of
soybean cultivation, and E. dentata showed a large accumulation of biomass relative to
size.

The most affected was the production of pods, since a reduction of 40% was shown with
respect to the control without weeds.

Juan VF, H. Saint-André, and RR Fernández. 2003. Competition of Lecheron (Euphorbia dentata) in
soybeans. Daninha Plant, Viçosa-MG, v.21, n.2, p.175-180.