POPULATION

BIOLOGY
ZGE 4301– Environmental Science
Department of Biological Sciences
University of the East - Manila
Population Defined
Population
group of individuals occupying a space at a
given time

Population Ecology/ Population Biology

study of interaction within populations; how it
changes through time
Distribution
 Population Growth Curve (J&S Curves)
 Reproductive Patterns

Properties of Population
 Population Density (Distribution and Abundance)
Age Structure/Distribution
Natality

 Mortality
 Immigration and Emigration
Population Density
Distribution of a population
 This defines the spatial location of populations
 Area over which it occurs
 Based on the presence or absence of individuals

Geographical Range
When a defined area encompasses all
individuals of a species.
Population Distribution
Patterns
Population Distribution
Patterns
Population Distribution Patterns

Clumped distribution form Societies

 Group of animals of the same species organized in
a cooperative manner

Benefits:
 Predator protection
Increased foraging efficiency
Modification of their environment
Population Distribution
Patterns
Reproductive Patterns
Reproductive Patterns
Reproductive Patterns
 Some populations reproduce without the act of sex
(Asexual reproduction)

 Offspring are exact genetic copies (clones)

 Others continue life by Sexual reproduction

 Genetic material is a mixture of two individuals.

 Advantage: The progeny (parents) are able to pass on favorable

traits to offspring (diversity) and offspring protection.

 Disadvantage: Males do not give birth, increase chances in

genetic errors, courtship and mating rituals can be costly.
Mating Systems
 Monogamy
persistent bond pair between one
male and one female.

Polygamy Promiscuity
 Polygyny  Meet only for
Polyandry copulation with no
continuing relationship.
Monogamous Animals
Polyandrous Animals
Polygynous Animals
Promiscuous Animals
Survivorship curves
Life span = Populations vary in how long individual
members typically live.
Survivorship curves
Survivorship curves
Survivorship curves
Type 1 = High survival in reproductive ages, and a
tendency to live at an old age.
Large mammals (e.g., Whales, Bears, Elephants
and many Human Populations)
Type 2 = Probability of death is unrelated to age,
once infancy is past. (e.g., Sea gulls, mice, and
rabbits)
 Type 3 = Mortality is very evident at an early life.
(e.g., fish, tree species, clams, crabs, and other
invertebrate [cockroaches])
Population Density
Abundance
 Size
 Number of individuals in a population

Function of Two Factors

Population Density = number of individuals per
unit area
 Population Distribution
Population Density
 Age Structure: Young
Populations Can Grow Fast
Age Structure
 Describes how fast a population grows or
declines depending on its age structure:
Pre-reproductive age: Not mature enough to
reproduce
Reproductive age: Capable of reproduction
Post-reproductive age: those too old to
reproduce.
Age Structure or Distribution
 Age Structure: Young
Populations Can Grow Fast
Developed Countries
 The age distributions of the more developed
regions continue to be much older than those of
the developing world, as a result of differing
patterns of fertility behavior, mortality
experience, and migration (Shrestha, 2000).

Developing countries
 Teenage pregnancy, People don’t live at an
older age (those who do are only few)
 Population Dynamics
 study of the changes of relative number of
organisms in populations and factors
explaining the changes

Population growth rate

 Influenced by natality, mortality, emigration and
immigration
Population Growth
 Open populations = Movement of individuals is
significant.
Closed populations = movement of individuals is
not significant enough to influence population growth.

If immigration and emigration are ignored, a

population’s growth rate equals birth rate
minus death rate.
Population Dynamics
Density independent factors
 affect the population regardless of the number of
individuals
 include natural phenomena such as drought, floods
Population Dynamics
Density dependent factors
 factors in the environment that depends on the
number of members in a population per unit area
 influence a population in proportion to its size
Limits on Population Growth
Population growth curve
Exponential Growth
Carrying Capacity
Carrying Capacity

 As a population
levels off (due to
environmental
resistance), it often
fluctuates slightly
above or below the
carrying capacity.

 Members of a population which exceed their

resources will eventually die unless they adapt
or move to an area with more resources.
Human Population Growth
Demography = Encompasses vital statistics about
people, such as births, deaths, where they live as
well their total population size in that country.
Most Populous Countries

 Developing
Countries contain the
majority of the most
populous countries in
the world.
Most Populous Countries
Pronatalist pressures
 Other factors that may increase desire for
parents to have children.

 Results of policies or cultural beliefs aimed at

increasing birth rate.

But we have a choice…

Family planning = allows couple to determine the
number and spacing of their children.
 Birth Control = any method for reducing births.
Family Planning
 Avoidance of sex = celibacy or avoiding sex during
fertility periods.
 Mechanical barriers = prevents contact between
the sperm and ovum. (Condoms, spermicides,
diaphragms, cervical caps and vaginal sponges).
 Surgical methods = Tubal ligations (F) &
Vasectomy (M)
Hormone-like chemicals = prevent maturation or
release of sperms or eggs (e.g., estrogen +
progesterone, or progesterone alone.)
Family Planning

 Physical barriers = barriers to implantation (intrauterine

devices or IUD’s)
 Abortion = the killing of the growing fetus that sparks
controversy and issue globally.
Can something truly prevent the
exponential growth of human
populations? (Hint: Its in the
concept of Carrying Capacity)
References:

Cunningham, W., & Cunningham, M. A. (2009).

Environmental Science: A Global Concern.
McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math.

Smith, R. L., & Smith, T. M. (2015). Elements of

Ecology, Global Edition (9th edition). Pearson,
16: 352-354.