POPULATION DYNAMICS

Population dynamics is the study of the fluctuations (changes)

of a population size over time.
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
 Population is a group of organisms of the same species that interbreed and
live in the same place at the same time.
 The interactions between individuals and their environment shape the
characteristics of populations.
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
 The key features or characteristics of populations include:
1. Size
2. Density
3. Natality (Birth rate)
4. Mortality (Death rate)
5. Immigration
6. Emigration
7. Dispersion
8. Age distribution
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
Population Size
 It is the number of individuals in a population.
 A population size can be small or large.
 A small population has the tendency to become
extinct as a result of:
1. Random events like natural disasters;
2. Inbreeding – when the population is more genetically
alike, recessive traits are more likely to appear;
3. Reduced variability which makes it harder to adapt to
changes.
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
Methods used To Determine Population Size
1. Capture – mark – recapture – method
2. Sampling (Random and non-random sampling)
3. Observation
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
Methods used To Determine Population Size

1. Capture recapture Method – a small random sample of the

population is captured, marked, then released into the
general population. After a period of time, the population
is resampled and the number of marked and unmarked
individuals is recorded.
1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
Formula For Calculating Population Size

Population size (N) = Total individuals marked in the first sample x size of second sample
number of marked individuals recaptured in the second sample

Lincoln Index Formula

Population size (N) = n1 x n2
n3
n1 = total caught and marked first time
n2 = total caught second time.
n3 = marked animals caught second time.
 Example
Question:
Dr. Squarius wants to find out how many Canada Geese occupy the area around Lake
Escherichia. So he and his Research Assistant, Ms. Eri, set out shore nets to trap the birds.
They managed to trap and fit 50 geese with neck bands. After 1 week, the RA returns to the
site with a pair of binoculars and counts 130 geese, of which 30 geese had neck tags. From
this data, approximately how many geese are estimated to be at the lake?
Answer
No. of geese first captured = n1 = 50
No. of geese captured second time = n2 = 130
No. of geese with neck tags in the second capturing = n3 = 30

Population size (N) = n1 x n2

n3
N = 50 x 130 = 216.7 = 217
30
 Try

Questions:
1. After random sampling, 200 penguins are captured, tagged and released. A
month later, 180 untagged and 20 tagged penguins are captured. Use the
Lincoln index to estimate the total penguin population.
2. Over the period of a month, you trap and tag 8 Red Foxes, with uniquely
colored tags, in the Watchmacallit Forest in New Jersey. You set up motion
sensitive remote cameras up at various locations in the forest. 1 month later,
you collect all the cameras and review the pictures. You record the results
and note that the cameras took pictures of three tagged foxes and 5 Red
Foxes without tags. What would be the total population of Red Foxes in the
area, using the Peterson Lincoln estimation?
 Sampling Method
 In the case where it will be difficult to count all the individuals of a population in
a given area, the sampling technique becomes useful.
 Sampling is done by counting the animals in a small area, then estimating how
many are there in the larger area.
Random Sampling
 It is used to select a sample that is unbiased. It can be
done using quadrats.
 It is random so every individual member of the
population has the chance of being chosen.
Random Sampling
 Non-random Sampling
 This technique is used to select individuals from a
population based on specific criteria or convenience,
rather than through random selection.
 It is also called non-probability sampling.
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
Population Density
 It is defined as the total number of individuals per unit area or volume at the
given time.
Formula
Population density = Dp
Total number ofindividuals = T
Land area = A
Dp = T
A
 Example
Question:
The population in a 50 squqare mile is 200 people. What is the population
density?
Answer
Population density = Dp
Total number ofindividuals = T = 200
Land area = A = 50 square mile
Dp = T = 200 = 4 people/square mile
A 50
 Types of population Density
 There are two types. These are:
1. Crude density – it is the density per unit total space.
2. Specific (ecological) density – it is the density per unit of habitat space.
 1.2 Understanding Characteristics of
Populations
Natality (Birth Rate)
 It refers to the birth of individuals in a population.
 It is the rate of reproduction.
OR
 It is birth per unit time.
Formula For Calculation
Natality (Birth rate) = Number of births
time
OR
Natality (Birth rate) = Number of live births x 1000
Average population
 Types of Natality
There are two types of natality. These are:
1. Maximum natality (Absolute/physiological natality) – is the number of births
under ideal conditions (that is no competition, abundant resources like food
and water). There are no limiting factors.
2. Realized (ecological) natality – is the number of individuals produced under an
actual or specific environmental condition.
 Mortality (Death rate)
 Mortality refers to death of individuals in the population.
 Death rate is the number of individuals dying in a given period. OR
 Death rate is the number of deaths per unit time or unit of the total
population.
 Types of Mortality
 There are two types of mortality. These are:
1. Minimum (specific or potential) mortality – it represents the theoretical
minimum loss under ideal or non-limiting conditions.
2. Realized (Ecological) mortality – it is the actual loss of individuals under a
given environmental conditions.
Vital Index
It is a percentage of birth to death ratio.
Survivorship Curve
 It is an expression of the mortality rate of the population.
 Survivorship curve plot the number of surviving individuals to the particular
age.
Types of Survivorship Curve
 There are three types. These are:
1. Highly convex curve (Type I curve) – is characteristic of populations with low
mortality rate of species until they near the end of their life span. E.g.
mountain sheep and man show such curve.
2. Type II curve – mortality rate is constant at all age groups. There is equal
chance of survival. Such populations are exposed to poor nutrition and
hygiene.
3. Highly concave curve (Type III curve) – is characteristic of populations high
mortality during the young stages . Examples are oysters and shell fish.
 Survivorship Curve
Formula: lx = N𝑡ൗN𝑜
 Dispersion
 It refers to the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of individuals of a
population.
 It shows whether members of the population live close together or far apart,
and what patterns are evident when they are spaced apart.
Patterns of Distribution
 There are three patterns of distribution. These are:
1. Regular/uniform – individuals are more or less spaced at equal distance from
one another. It is rare in nature. It is typical of species in which individuals
compete for a scarce environmental resource such as water in a desert.
2. Random – the position of one individual is unrelated to the position of its
neighbours. Organisms have an unpredictable distribution. It is typical of
species in which individuals do not interact strongly. It is also rare in nature.
3. Clumped – individuals are aggregated together into groups of varying size. It is
the most common pattern of populationdispersion.
 Age Structure/ Distribution
 It is the population of individuals in each age group.
 Age distribution affects both birth rate and death rate.
 A group of individuals roughly of the same age is known as cohort.
Categories of Age Structure
 There are three categories of age structure. These are:
1. Pre-productive – this refers to young individuals below the reproductive age. In
human demography, it refers to children below the age of 15 years.
2. Reproductive – this refers to individuals of the reproductive age. That is 15 to
64 years. It is the working age population.
3. Post-reproductive age – this refers to the elderly population. That is 65 years
and older.
Age Pyramids
 It is a vertical bar graph which represents the number or proportions of
individuals in various age groups at any given time.
 It is the most convenient way to represent the age distribution of a
population.
 Types of age pyramids
 There are three types of hypothetical age pyramids. These are:
1. Expanding population – it is a pyramid-shape age structure. It shows high birth
rate and population growth may be exponential. It shows a youthful population.
Each successive generation will be higher than the previous one. Examples are
found in housefly, yeast and algae.
2. Stable population – it is bell shaped. It shows that as the rate of growth
decreases and stabilizes, the pre-reproductive and reproductive age groups
become more or less equal in size. The post-reproductive age group remains the
smallest.
3. Diminishing population – it is an urn-shaped age structure. The birth rate is
drastically reduced. It is a population that is dying off.
 Population Dispersal (Migration)
 It is the movement of individuals into and out of the population area.
Types of Migration
 There are two types of migration namely:
1. Emigration – one way outwards movement of individuals from an area.
2. Immigration – one way inward movement of individuals into an area.