2.

1 SPECIES AND
POPULATIONS
Page 17, 25-31, 59-63 ESS Essentials
Learning intentions:
To describe how species interact with their environments.
Overview: Ecology,
Species, Habitat Research Habitat,
Plenary
and Niche Niches, etc.

10 mins 10 mins 15 mins 35 mins 10 mins

Fundamental Population Interactions,

and Realised Population Growth Curves
Niche
2.1 U1 A species is a group of organisms that share common
characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

What is Ecology?
▪The study of the living (biotic) and
non-living (abiotic) parts that interact
within an ecosystem.
2.1 Species and Populations
Significant ideas:
1) A species interacts with its abiotic and biotic
environments; its niche is described by these
interactions.
2) Populations change and respond to interactions with
the environment.
3) A system has a carrying capacity for a given species.
Understandings
Statement Guidance
2.1..U1 A species is a group of organisms that share common characteristics Students should address this topic in the context of
and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring. valid named species, for example use Atlantic
salmon rather than fish

2.1.U2 A habitat is the environment in which a species normally lives.
2.1.U3 A niche describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and
resources to which an organism or population responds
It is useful to be aware that for some organisms,
habitats can change over time as a result of
migration.

2.1.U4 The fundamental niche describes the full range of conditions and
resources in which a species could survive and reproduce. The realized
niche describes the actual conditions and resources in which a species
exists due to biotic interactions.
2.1..U5 The non-living, physical factors that influence the organisms and
ecosystem - such as temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity and
precipitation - are termed abiotic factors
 The ecological
organisational
Individual A Group of Individuals A number of species
of the same species living in the same area

structure.

What type of system is the Ecosystem?

A community interacting
A collection of ecosystems
with the abiotic factors in
What type of system is the Biosphere? with similar abiotic
its environment
conditions

=EARTH
What is ecology?
Ecologists look at and try to understand various aspects of organisms – what they are
(species), how varied they are (diversity), where they are located (distribution),
how many there are of them (population size) and how they interact and adapt.

An ecosystem is made up of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.

2.1 U5 The nonliving, physical factors that influence the organisms
and ecosystem – such as temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity and
precipitation – are termed abiotic factors

▪ Abiotic Factors: non-living, physical

factors in the ecosystem that may
influence an organism or a system
▪ Sunlight influences temperature and evaporation
rates, which also influences precipitation levels

▪ The availability and movement of water through

soil and bedrock impacts soil pH, which in turns
determines which plants grow in a particular
location

▪ All these abiotic factors are interdependent

2.1 U5 The nonliving, physical factors that influence the organisms
and ecosystem – such as temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity and
precipitation – are termed abiotic factors

Biotic or Abiotic?
▪River dolphin
▪Algae
▪Daylight hours
▪Precipitation
▪Moss
An ecosystem can be defined as a community of organisms that
depend on each other and the environment they live in.

In the above pictures, identify parts of Ecosystems that are

living (biotic) and parts that are non-living (abiotic).
EXAMPLES of Abiotic components include:
TERRESTRIAL AQUATIC
● Sunlight ● All of the above +
● Temperature ● pH
● Soil Conditions ● salinity
● Precipitation
● Water
The biotic components include:
● Producers – converts light energy into = PLANTS
organic compounds using
photosynthesis
● Consumers – animals that eat plants or = ANIMALS
other animals.
● Decomposers – organisms that
breakdown waste into component parts = FUNGI and BACTERIA
for reuse.
2.1 U8 A population is a group of organisms of the same species
living in the same area at the same time

• Able to interbreed
• Populations can be
separated by
geography
eventually stopping
interbreeding
• Formation of a new
Major Biotic and Abiotic Components of an Ecosystem
2.1 U1 A species is a group of organisms that share common
characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
Species
▪a group of organisms sharing common characteristics that can
interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
▪Scientific Names: used by scientists to identify a specific species.
▪ Contains two parts: Genus species
▪ Always underlined or in italics
▪ Genus always capitalized & species all lower case
▪ Examples:
▪ Homo sapiens (humans)
▪ Panthera tigeris (Bengal Tiger)
Naming Species common Name:
Domain - Eukarya

leopard/panther
Kingdom - Animalia
Biologists and
Phylum - Chordata
ecologists classify and
name all organisms. Class - Mammalia
The taxonomic rank
Order - Carnivora
has a hierarchy that
starts at the very Family - Felidae
specific (species) and
Genus - Panthera
goes to the very general
(kingdom). Descriptor - pardus

Species Name: Panthera pardus

2.1 U1 A species is a group of organisms that share common
characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
Keystone Species

▪Keystone species: species that are crucial to the

maintenance of their ecosystem
▪Vital in determining the nature and structure
of the entire ecosystem
▪Wolves in Yellowstone
▪Sea Otters in Kelp Beds
▪Beavers in rivers
2.1 U1 A species is a group of organisms that share common
characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
Species or Not?
HABITAT
● is the environment in
which a species
normally lives

● Each species’ habitat

has abiotic and
biotic factors that
limit their
population
 The niche is the role an organism plays and

NICHE the position it holds in the environment AND

includes all the interactions with the abiotic
and biotic environment.

HABITAT = woodlands, grassland

savannas, and forests. They also
occupy mountainous, scrub, and
desert habitats.

NICHE = It is a predator, feeding

on small and large prey, as well
as livestock. It competes with
other large predators (like lions
and tigers), it is also known to
attack humans.
2.1 U3 A niche describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic
conditions and resources which an organism or population
responds

▪ It looks like these

warblers all occupy the
same niche, but that is
not true
▪ Each warbler species
prefers to feed at
different height and
portion of the tree, thus
reducing competition
2.1 U3 A niche describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic
conditions and resources which an organism or population
responds

▪ If two species have an identical

or very similar niches they
cannot live in the same
habitat.
▪ The Eurasian red squirrel and
Eastern grey squirrel both eat
very similar foods.
▪ The grey squirrel outcompetes
the red squirrel
2.1 U4 The fundamental niche describes the full range of
conditions and resources in which a species could survive and
reproduce. The realized niche describes the actual conditions and
resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions

▪ No two species can have the same ecological niche in

the same place at the same time!
▪ Fundamental Niche: the entire range of conditions in
which a species could live
▪ Realized Niche: the actual conditions under which the
species lives (usually due to competition)
 Fundamental and Realised niche
A fundamental niche describes
the full range of conditions and
resources in which a species
could survive and reproduce.

A realised niche describes the

actual conditions and resources
in which a species exists due to
biotic interactions.
 Case Study: Joseph
Fundamental and Realised niche Connell’s barnacles

e n ta l N iche
Fundam
▪ Both of these barnacle
species could live anywhere
between the high tide and
low tide lines
▪ – but abiotic
environmental conditions
and competition for
resources (a biotic factor)
limit the area occupied byhe
each species Realised Nic
IB TESTING TIPS:
▪IB often asks for named examples, be sure to use
specific examples and use specific names (scientific
names are not required).
▪ For example if you just say tiger this refers to 1 of 10
species versus Bengal tiger is specific to one region
and one species!
▪ For a named example of a habitat or ecosystem
▪ be specific; The Giant Kelp Forest off the coast of
Monterrey Bay California is much better than the
beach
▪ give as much detail as possible; The Sundarbans is the
largest mangrove forest in Southern Bangladesh and
South-eastern India.
 Interaction of environment and species niche
Population Size
 -

Limiting Factors Carrying capacity:

Include:
- Describes the maximum number of
individuals of a species that can
For plants: be sustained by an environment
- Light, nutrients,
water, carbon dioxide, Factors:
and temperature - Availability food and water
- Territorial space
- Predation
Animals: - Disease
- Space, food, mates, - Availability of mates
nesting sites and
water
 Density-dependent
factors lowers the
Density-dependent birth rate or raise
the death rate as

vs. population density

increases.

density-independent Density-independent
factors are those
factors which affect a
population
irrespective of
population density.
 Quick research on an ENDANGERED SPECIES:
Add a slide to this presentation and use the link above to answer the
following questions:

1. What is this animal’s habitat?

2. What is its’ niche?
3. What is its’ current population size?
4. What are the factors affecting its’ population size? Why is it declining?
5. Are these factors density dependent or density independent?

BE PREPARED TO REPORT ON YOUR FINDINGS.

Red Panda -Raksha Anand
- Red pandas live in the Eastern Himalayas in places like
China, Nepal, and Bhutan. They spend most of their time
in trees. Their semi-retractable claws help them move
easily from branch to branch.
- Red pandas have an important role in their ecosystem,
controlling the populations they prey upon. They live in
South Asia's middle mountains in forests which are the
lungs of this area. If these forests are kept intact, the
people, plants, and animals of South Asia can live a
healthy life.
- There are less than 10,000 red pandas in the wild today;
scattered throughout south-east Asia.
Tapanuli orangutan Mark

The Tapanuli orangutan is a species

of orangutan restricted to South
Tapanuli orangutan inhabit in
Tapanuli in the island of Sumatra
mostly moist and tropical forests.
in Indonesia. It is one of three
A number of their activities are
known species of orangutan,
found in Savannah Woodlands and
alongside the Sumatran orangutan,
Grasslands Forest mosaics.
found farther northwest on the
island, and the Bornean orangutan.
They are primarily omnivores that
It was described as a distinct
feed on both fruits and plants and
species in 2017.
animals. They are highly competent
in prevailing in a fight with their
competitors.

Their current population is 3080

international wide.
Nate - Chimpanzee
1. Chimpanzees live in forests, moist and dry.
They are found in Savannah Woodlands and
Grasslands Forest mosaics.
2. Chimpanzees are primarily scavengers, they
mostly feed on fruits and plants. They are
highly
3. Their current population is 172,700 to
299,700
4. The decline of the chimpanzees population was
due to the habitat loss, hunting and
diseases.
5. I would say that these factors are a density
independent, because the habitat loss,
hunting and diseases are responsible for the
decline of Chimpanzee population.
Blue whales Danielle

1.The blue whale is found alone or in small

groups in all oceans, but populations in the
Southern Hemisphere are much larger.

2.The blue whale's diet consists almost

exclusively of krill.

3.The global blue whale population is estimated

to be 10,000-25,000 total as of 2018.

4.Illegally hunt, underwater noise interrupt

blue whale deep-dive feeding.

5. It’s density independent,because more human

activity leads to fewer blue whales.
Whale shark by Trevelle
Whale sharks have a broad distribution in tropical
and warm temperate seas, usually between latitudes
30°N and 35°S. They are known to inhabit both deep
and shallow coastal waters and the lagoons of coral
atolls and reefs. (tropical oceans)
Whale sharks roles are plankton patrollers
They eat small krills,fish and plankton by using their
gill rakers as a suction filter
The greatest threats to the whale shark population
are targeted fisheries, bycatch in nets,
unsustainable tourism, and vessel strikes.
The Whale sharks population size are from
119,000–238,000
THREATS
● OVERFISHING- A TRAGEDY OF THE
COMMONS. One of the main reasons for
the sharp decrease in the whale shark
population in recent years is overfishing,
and this has been known to be a tragedy of
the commons.
● HABITAT DESTRUCTION. Whale sharks
have been victims of the careless pollution
of the seas.
● VESSEL COLLISIONS.
● Whale sharks are independant
Indochina tigers (thanh hien)
- They're native to the tropical and subtropical
forests of mainland Southeast Asia.
- They sustain entirely on other animals
(carnivores) wild boar, muntjac and sambar deer, macaques, and the
goat-like serow.

- Illegally hunt due to persistent demand, their

bones, and other body parts are used for
modern health tonics and folk remedies, and
their skins are sought after as status symbols
among some Asian cultures.
- There are believed to be approximately 350 left
in existence. The largest concentration of
Indochinese tigers is in Thailand.
- Density-independent, because of deforestation
and illegal hunting
Giant Panda
- They live in China
- they subsist almost entirely on
bamboo
-
Newfoundland wolf Grace
1.The Newfoundland wolf lived on the island
of Newfoundland off the east coast of Canada.

2.Reindeer were the main source of food.

They also caught beavers, voles and other
rodents. It is consumer.

3.Extinct in 1930

4.The main factor seems to have been the

drastic decline of the Newfoundland
caribou population.

5.Density dependent.
Amur Leopard-Timothy
1. What is this animal’s habitat?
● Temperate deciduous and conifer-deciduous broadleaf forests of Russia/China border
2. What is its’ niche?
● Mild climate as it cannot survive any further north into Russia, as the snow gets too deep in winter
● Needs forest cover ( annual fires have changed must of the forest into grasslands which do not suit it).
● Preys on deer, wild boar, and small mammals during the summer months eg weasels, birds and mice
● Found in a strip of land on the Russian/Chinese border
● Long limbs to walk in snow, camouflage with red/yellow in summer and yellow in winter for hunting; fur length 2.5 cm in summer to 7cm
in winter; 2-3 cubs in a litter; lifespan unknown; territory 40-100 sq km for females and up to 400 sq km for males
3. What is its’ current population size?
● Only 25-40 remain in the wild
4. What are the factors affecting its’ population size? Why is it declining?
● Poaching - for skins, their habitat is easily accessible to humans
● Forest fires - biggest threat caused by humans
● Prey depletion
● Inbreeding - low genetic diversity a limiting factors
● Disease - from other co-existing species
● Competition with tigers for prey
● Habitat constraints due to human development eg gas pipelines, rail, coal extraction, illegal logging
5. Are these factors density dependent or density independent? - density independent mainly however the small population size is density
dependent
 1.Polar bears live on Arctic sea ice and are found in Canada,

polar bear
Greenland, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Russia and the United States

2.Polar bears are carnivores, such as fish, walruses, sea lions,

seals, fur seals, sea birds, small whales, arctic wolves,
Zhiyao berries are its food.

3.So far, the total number of polar bears in the wild is only
about 26,000.

4.Due to global warming, after the ice on the ocean gradually

melts, polar bears can only come to land and eat a variety of
land animals and plants. Some mushrooms and berries, like some
mushrooms, cannot be converted into sufficient fat to support
their life or even survival at all.

5.It's related, the more the population, the more carbon dioxide
will be emitted, which will cause global warming, sea level will
rise, then the glaciers will melt, and polar bears will have no
habitat, which will reduce the number of polar bears
Sea turtles -Louize
1. What is this animal’s habitat? : The sea turtles habitats could be found at shallow coastal
waters, bays and lagoons and mainly at sea.
2. What is its niche? :
3. Sea turtles are mainly herbivores, they feed off of seagrass and algae, hence why they are
attracted to coral reefs, as that is where they get their main food from. Sea turtles can go
long periods submerged underwater, without coming up to the surface for air. They are on the
endangered list of species, as 90 percent of sea turtles are females, leaving 10 percent of
males, making reproduction a difficult process.
4. What is it’s current population size? :In 2022, the current population size of sea turtles are
one-million, one-hundred and thirty-three thousand. Including both the male and female sea
turtle population. However,it keeps decreasing through the years, due to man-made threats that
cause their population to decrease rapidly.
5. What are the factors affecting its population size? Why is it declining?
● Pollution, sea turtles sometimes mistake plastic items that were disposed in their habitats, to
be jellyfish. Which they choke on, and eventually die. The trash on beaches, causes difficulty
for hatchlings to make their way to the ocean, as they get trapped or entangled by the rubbish
lying around./ Over harvesting and illegal trade, turtles are constantly in demand for their
meat and eggs as a source of food for humans and also for medicinal practices and religious
practices, hence why their population size is decreasing.
6. Are these factors density dependent or density independent?

These factors are density independent, as the decrease in the population is because of
human activities such as pollution, over harvesting of their eggs and flesh.
Jaguar
Tropical low-lying habitats close to lakes and rivers, and inland habitats

Jaguars live in a range of habitats, including arid scrubland, thick

tropical forests, swamps, coastal mangroves, lowland river valleys,
grasslands, and mixed-conifer forests. They gravitate toward areas
near rivers and streams.

Jaguars are consumers, they hunt and feed on herbivores and are the
top predators in their environment and maintain the structure and
function of the ecosystem

The total population for Jaguars worldwide is up to 173,000 as of

today.

Habitat fragmentation such as logging, poaching, and large scale

agriculture.

These threats to the Jaguar are density-independent as the species is

harmed by human activity.
Snow Leopard-Stephanie
1.Snow leopards live across a vast area in northern
and central Asia's high mountains, including the
Himalayan region.

2.Snow leopards live in high-altitude mountainous

terrain, usually at elevations of 3,000-4,500m. They
prefer steep, broken landscapes such as cliffs, rocky
outcrops and ravines.

3.3,020-5,390

4. The population is declining due to habitat loss,

poaching and the impact of climate change.

5.Density independent.They are not factors that

relate to population directly.
saola-jackson
The find proved to be the
first large mammal new to
science in more than 50 years
and one of the most
spectacular zoological
discoveries of the 20th
century.

They are found only in the

Annamite Mountains of Vietnam
and Laos.
HAWKSBILL TURTLES
The Hawksbill turtle is one of the seven species
of marine turtles and is found in nearshore
tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic,
the Indian, and the Pacific Ocean.

- Their numbers are believed to be between 20,000

and 23,000 nesting turtles, although it is
difficult to assess their true population numbers
since marine turtles are the true ocean wanderers.
Understandings
Statement Guidance
2.1.U6 The interactions between the organisms - such as predation,
herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, disease and competition -
are termed biotic factors.

2.1.U7 Interactions should be understood in terms of the influences

each species has on the population dynamics of others, and
upon the carrying capacity of the others environment.

2.1.U8 A population is a group of organisms of the same species

living in the same area at the same time, and which are
capable of interbreeding..

2.1..U9 S and J population curves describe a generalized response of

Statement Guidance
populations to a particular set of conditions (abiotic and biotic
2.1..U9 S and J population curves describe a generalized response of
factors).
populations to a particular set of conditions (abiotic and biotic
factors).

2.1.U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it approaches

the carrying capacity of the system.
2.1 U8 A population is a group of organisms of the same species
living in the same area at the same time

The shaded patches in this map of the United

States shows different wolf populations.

Because the patches are separated by

barriers-mostly areas with large human
presence and minimal wolf habitat-the
wolves do interact with each other.

All the wolves in the US are the same species,

but they split into different populations
 Population Size
Population size is determined by:
● Births and immigration – which increase population size.
● Deaths and emigration – these decrease population size.

Births + immigration = deaths and emigration (population is in dynamic

equilibrium)

Births + immigration > deaths and emigration (population growth)

Births + immigration < deaths and emigration (population decline)

Population growth
curves
When a graph of population
growth for a species plotted
against time, an S-curve is
created.
- Shows initial rapid
growth, then slows as
carrying capacity is
reached.
 S-Shaped population curve stages
Stage Name Description
1 Lag phase population numbers are low
leading to low birth rates
2 Exponential population grows at an
growth phase increasingly rapid rate
3 Transitional phase population growth slows
down considerably although
continuing to grow
4 Stationary phase population growth stabilizes
and then population
fluctuates around a level that
represents the carrying
capacity
Table 2.1 page 71
Davis and Nagle, ESS
Explanation
● few individuals colonize a new area
● low population = low birth rates
● limiting factors are not restricting population
growth, favourable abiotic factors like
temp/rain/lack of predators
● limiting factors begin to restrict population
growth
● increased competition for resources
● an increase in predators/disease/ mortality
● limiting factors restrict the population to its
carrying capacity (K)
● changes in limiting factors, predation,
disease, and abiotic factors cause populations
to increase/decrease around carrying capacity
 J Population curve ●

- The actual rate of population Population

change depends on the biotic crash
potential and the population
size.

Exponential growth occurs when:

- Lack of limiting factors
restricting population growth
- plentiful resources such as
light, space, and food
- favourable abiotic components,
like temperature and rainfall

J-curve populations generally

controlled by abiotic (not biotic)
factors. (Although lack of food can
cause crash) E.g. the carrying
capacity of an environment for locusts
can be raised due to rain
Paramecium competition
P. aurelia and P. caudatum follow a
distinct exponential pattern of
population growth when grown
separately.

However, when grown together, which

species excludes the other?
Population interactions: 1. COMPETITION
➔ The demand by individuals for limited environmental resources
➔ Intraspecific competition occurs WITHIN a species
➔ interspecific competition is BETWEEN DIFFERENT species - when species
niches overlap
Population interactions: 2. parasitism
➔ A parasite is an organism that benefits at the expense of another
➔ E.g. ectoparasites like ticks and mites which live on surface of host, or
endoparasites like tapeworms live inside their hosts
➔ Host carrying capacity may decrease from parasite harm, e.g. some plant
parasites draw food from the host via their roots.

Rafflesia is a parasitic flower (also the world’s

largest flower). It has no leaves, so instead it
parasitises a host vine, where it gets its needed
sugars from.
Population interaction 3: mutualism
Mutualism ➔ Symbiotic relationship + both species benefit
➔ E.g. coral reefs = coral + zooxanthellae (single celled algae)
Lichens = algae + fungi
 Population interaction 4: predation page 65-66 Davis and
Nagle, ESS

Predator - Prey ➔ When one animal eats another

➔ Controlled by negative feedback mechanisms
➔ Relationship between Predator and prey increase and decrease in population
 Population interaction 5: herbivory page 67 Davis and Nagle,
ESS

Herbivory ➔ Animal that feeds on plants

➔ The carrying capacity of a herbivores environment will depend on the
quantity/density of that animals plant
➔ E.g. hippos
CLASSWORK and HOME LEARNING:
The table shows population growth in a population with discrete
generations, starting with a population of 1000 and increasing at a constant
reproductive rate of 1.2 per cent per generation. MAKE A COPY of this table
on your google drive.

a. Complete the table by working out total population (column 2) and working out
the increase in
population size from generation to generation (column 3).
b. Plot the graph of total population size.
c. Describe the graph and identify the type of population growth that it shows.