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.​
2.1 Species and Populations
Big questions:
• What strengths and weaknesses of he systems
approach and the use of models have been revealed
through this topic?
Understandings
Statement Guidance
2.1..U1 A species is a group of organisms that share Students should address this topic in the context
common characteristics and that interbreed of valid named species, for example use Atlantic
to produce fertile offspring. salmon rather than fish

2.1.U2 A habitat is the environment in which a It is useful to be aware that for some organisms,
species normally lives. habitats can change over time as a result of
migration.

2.1.U3 A niche describes the particular set of abiotic

and biotic conditions and resources to which
an organism or population responds

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.
Understandings
Statement Guidance
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

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..
Understandings
Statement Guidance
2.1..U9 S and J population curves describe a
generalized response of 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.
Applications and Skills
Statement Guidance
2.1.A1 Explain population growth curves in terms of
numbers and rates

2.1.S1 Interpret graphical representations or

models of factors that affect an organism's
niche. Examples include predator prey
relationships, competition, and organism
abundance over time
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.
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 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
▪ Soil composition

▪ Bacteria
▪ Mushroom
▪ Rocks
▪ Minerals
▪ Mangrove trees
▪ Swamp grass
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.

Levels of Organization
▪ Ecologists study several levels of
organizations
▪ Species
▪ Population
▪ Community
▪ Ecosystem
▪ Biome
▪ Biosphere
2.1 U1 A species is a group of organisms that share common
characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

What is an Ecosystem?
▪ A community of interdependent
organisms and the interactions with the
physical environment in which they live.
▪ It can also be defined as the abiotic and
biotic factors and the interactions
between them.
▪ The interaction between organisms and
the environment is the key!
2.1 U1 A species is a group of organisms that share common
characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
Naming Species

▪ Species: a group of the same type of organisms that

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

Species or Not?
Populations change and respond to interactions with the
environment

These amphibians all share a

common ancestor

Populations of the ancestral

amphibian were isolated by
geographic factors

Different environmental factors in

each part of the ecosystem
selected different characteristics
favoring survival in that habitat

Overtime they have become

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

Visit
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/director
y?direction=desc&sort=extinction_status
and find two species of your liking. Then using
the information from the site try to complete
the information. Then, do a short presentation
in class Species scientific name
Species common name
Habitat
Photo
IUCN status
2.1 U2 A habitat is the environment in which a species normally
lives

▪ Habitat: where an organism lives

▪ The habitat must provide a source of
food, water and shelter for the organism.
2.1 U3 A niche describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic
conditions and resources which an organism or population
responds

▪ Niche: where, when, what and

how an organisms lives.
▪ This is largely to do with the trophic level
of the organism. (what it eats)
▪ Examples:
▪ Plants make food for the rest of the food
chain
▪ Tigers keep the population of herbivores
under control
2.1 U3 A niche describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic
conditions and resources which an organism or population
responds

▪ A niche may range from a unidimensional

space to a multidimensional space

Includes:
• Space utilisation
• Food consumption
• Temperature range
• Moisture requirements
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)
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

Case Study: Joseph Connell’s barnacles

▪ Both of these barnacle
species could live anywhere
between the high tide and
low tide lines- their
fundamental niche
▪ – but abiotic environmental
conditions and competition
for resources (a biotic
factor) limit the size of each
species – realized niche
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
• Over time can form
a new species
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
How many of these terms do you know?

In your notes draw a bunch of little

▪ Organism organisms. Some of the same type
and some of different types.
▪ Species
▪ Label 1 individual as an organism.
▪ Population
▪ Label a group of the same type of
▪ Community organisms (species)
▪ Niche ▪ Circle: individuals of the same
species (Population)
▪ Habitat
▪ Draw interactions between the
populations (Community)
2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Predation = hunting
2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Herbivory = hunting plants

2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Parasitism = one species depends on

another for nutrition, harming the host
organism in the process
2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Mutualism = two species benefit

2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Competition = fight for resources

▪ Intraspecific
▪ Interspecific
2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Amensalism = one unaffected the other

harmed
2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Neutralism = two organisms do not affect

each other. No relationship
2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

Interactions Between Organisms

▪ Predator/Prey
Data interpretation: Competition
The biologists Lotka and Volterra theorized that no two species with similar
requirements for resources (food, shelter, etc.) could coexist in the same niche
without competition driving one to local extinction.

In 1930s G.F. Gause tested the Lotka-Volterra theory by growing two

Paramecium species in identical conditions. However, he found that if he grew
them together that only one species prevailed.
In your notes:
Using what you
know explain the
findings of G.F.
Gause.

You must describe

the trends you see
in the graphs in
your explanation.
2.1 U6 The interaction between the organisms – such as
predation, herbivore, parasitism, ,mutualism, disease, and
competition – are termed biotic factors

▪ Through the following activity you should

learn about different types of interactions
between organisms and how these
interactions affect the populations
dynamics of the organisms involved.
▪ Relationships between Organisms Class
Jigsaw Activity
 Relationships between Organisms Class Jigsaw
Activity - Your group will research a specific type
of interaction between organisms:

Groups & Topics What to Include

▪ Red - Competition (inter- and
intra-species) – include
competitive exclusion
▪ Blue - Parasitism – include
important vocab.
▪ Yellow - Mutualism
▪ Pink - Predation – include at
least 1 graph that shows how
negative feedback is involved
▪ White - Herbivory – at least 1
must include a plant with a
defense mechanism
● Definitions
● How do organisms interact? (How do
they influence the population dynamics of
each other? How do they influence carrying
capacity? Niche?)
● If possible include a sketch/drawing or
clipart that shows how the population of one
organism affects the population of the other
organism.
● Give at least 2 specific named
examples of this type of interaction with
explanation about the role of both organisms
involved.
2.1 U8 A population is a group of organisms of the same species
living in the same area at the same time

Population Dynamics

Population Dynamics: the study of

the change in populations over
time

We use population graphs to look

at the changes in populations over
time.
2.1 U8 A population is a group of organisms of the same species
living in the same area at the same time

• Population Dynamics
• A major component of modern
ecological research focuses on
understanding what influences
the abundance of organisms
within a population, and why
this abundance changes over
time.
• Population dynamics refers to
how populations of a species
change over time
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.

These interactions
dictate how
populations of
different species
fluctuate within an
ecosystem
2.1 U9 S and J population curves describe a generalized
response of populations to a particular set of conditions (abiotic
and biotic factors)

▪ Without limiting
factors, there will
be exponential
growth (there is
nothing limiting
population size)
▪ Is this realistic for
most populations?
Justify your answer!
2.1 U9 S and J population curves describe a generalized
response of populations to a particular set of conditions (abiotic
and biotic factors)

▪ Exponential Growth Phase

▪ Abundant food, space, light
▪ Transitional Phase
Environmental
▪ Competition resistance

▪ Plateau Phase
▪ When population reaches carrying
capacity (K) there is no longer growth
▪ Where exponential growth slows
until we reach carrying capacity is
called environmental resistance
S-Curves
2.1 U9 S and J population curves describe a generalized
response of populations to a particular set of conditions (abiotic
and biotic factors)

▪ In reality populations tend to fluctuate around the

carrying capacity.
▪ What is this an example of?
▪ Negative Feedback

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

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

▪ Show a boom and bust pattern

▪ Population grows exponentially
▪ Sudden collapse called a dieback
▪ Often the population exceeds carrying
capacity which is called overshoot
▪ Typical of microbes, invertebrates, fish
and small mammals – R-strategy
▪ Can you think of any other populations J-Curves
that might show this type of curve?
2.1 U9 S and J population curves describe a generalized
response of populations to a particular set of conditions (abiotic
and biotic factors)

▪ List three abiotic

factors which may
limit population
growth

▪ List three biotic

factors which may
promote
population growth
What type of Population Growth?
What type of Population Growth?
2.1 A1 Explain populations growth curves in terms of numbers and
rates
2.1 S1 Interpret graphical representations or models of factors
that affect an organism’s niche. Examples include predator-prey
relationships, competition, and organisms abundance over time
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system.

Carrying Capacity
▪ The maximum number of organisms of a
single species that an ecosystem can
support
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system.

Carrying Capacity K and r strategists

▪ Plotting the growth of a population from
an initial growth realization factor of 1 to a
final factor of 0 produces a curve like this,
called the logistic growth curve or S-
shaped curve of growth.
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system.

Carrying Capacity K and r strategists

▪ Plotting the growth of a population from
an initial growth realization factor of 1 to a
final factor of 0 produces a curve like this,
called the logistic growth curve or S-
shaped curve of growth.
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system.
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system.

Carrying Capacity K and r strategists

2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system.

Carrying Capacity
▪ Sketch what a population growth curve would
look like if there were no limiting factors.
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system

Limiting Factors
▪ Factors in an ecosystem that limit the population size if there are is
too much or too little of it.
▪ Sunlight
▪ Precipitation
▪ Salinity
▪ Nutrients in the soil
▪ Food
▪ Limiting factors cause a reduction in population growth as they become in short
supply.
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system

Density-dependent factors
▪ Will increase or decrease the carrying
capacity of a population based on the size of
the population
▪ Come up with three factors
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system

Density-independent factors
▪ Will increase or decrease the carrying
capacity regardless of the size of the
population
▪ Come up with three factors
2.1 U10 Limiting factors will slow population growth as it
approaches the carrying capacity of the system

Case Study: Reindeer on St Matthew Island

▪ Small island in the Bering
Sea
▪ Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
introduced in 1944,
increased from 29 to 6,000 in
1963.
▪ Crash die-off the following
winter to less that 50