Two Models of Population Growth

red line illustrates the

exponential growth model

populations usually don’t

grow exponentially – it’s
not sustainable, because
resources are limiting
blue line illustrates the
logistic growth model
Logistic growth
• most populations level off at a carrying capacity (K)

as the population approaches K, the

rate of change decreases, e.g…
Logistic growth
• density-dependent factors have a greater regulating effect at higher
population densities (disease and predation)

• density-independent factors have an impact that affects small and

large populations equally (storms and fires)

What can limit population growth?

Pollution, food availability, predation, disease, location of eggs being produced.

Is each density-dependent or independent?

Yeah.
A continuum of strategies…
• r-selected species – routinely experience exponential growth (r)
• exponential growth followed by periodic or seasonal crashes - population size fluctuates
• often semelparous (reproduce once, then die)
• typically high fecundity (potential offspring production)
• high mortality of young (Type III survivorship curve)
• short time to reproductive maturity
• small body size (large r)

• K-strategists (K-selected) – persist at or near carrying capacity (K)

• stable population size
• typically the opposite of the characteristics listed above!
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#:~:text=7.9%20Billion%20(2021),currently%20living)%20of%20the%20world.
Population Pyramids illustrate demographic patterns
• rectangular pyramids are
characteristic of stable
populations
• triangular pyramids are
characteristic of populations
poised for future growth
• inverted triangles are
characteristic of populations
that are shrinking
https://www.populationpyramid.net/world/2022/
Species, Populations & Communities
• species – individuals can interbreed and produce viable offspring;
includes ALL of the individuals of this kind
• population – all of the individuals of one species that can
potentially interact with each other in a particular place
• community - all of the individuals of multiple species that can
potentially interact with each other in a particular place
Describing a community
• species richness = # of species present
• biodiversity = richness + # of individuals / species
• primary productivity = amount of energy produced

• interspecific interactions influence population and

community dynamics…
How many species
do you see?

How do you think

each affects the
others?
 positive (+)
 negative (–)
 neutral (0)

Photo by Anurag Agrawal

How many species
do you see?

How do you think

each affects the
others?
 positive (+)
 negative (–)
 neutral (0)

Photo by Anurag Agrawal

symbiosis =
one species
lives in or
on another
antagonistic
interactions
Competition (–/–)
• intraspecific – within one species
• interspecific – between different species

• exploitative competition – 2 competitors use the same resource;

one is usually more efficient at it
• interference competition – a competitor interferes with another’s
access to the resource
Outcomes of competition…
• competitive exclusion – inferior
competitor goes locally extinct
• resource partitioning – competing species
coexist by using a resource in different
ways (e.g. birds foraging in a tree)
• character displacement – competition
selects for a change in behavior or
morphology in some populations within a
species
Niche
• fundamental niche
• defined by physiological
capabilities
• where a species CAN live

• realized niche
• defined by interactions with
other species
• where a species DOES live
Today’s Learning Objectives:
• Distinguish between common descriptions of a community (species richness,
biodiversity, primary productivity).
• Describe antagonistic interactions, mutualism, competition, commensalism
and amensalism with respect to the positive or negative effects on each
organism in the interaction, and be able to describe and recognize examples
of each.
• Describe different kinds of competition (intraspecific, interspecific,
exploitative, interference) and the potential outcomes of competition
(competitive exclusion, character displacement, resource partitioning,
fundamental vs. realized niche).