Essential Biology 5.

3 Populations Due Date:09-12-2010

Student Name:

Blog resource: http://tinyurl.com/34tofbg

1. Define population. “A group of organisms of the same species living in the

same area at the same time.” (1 p. 36)

2. Draw a box diagram to show the effects of natality, mortality, immigration

and emigration on a population:

Immigration+

Natality +
POPULATION
Mortality -

Emigration -

3. Outline under which conditions a population will:

a. Grow

A population will grow when the natality or immigration rates increase to

higher than the mortality and emigration rates.

b. Remain stable

The population will remain stable if mortality, natality, immigration and

emigration grow or decrease at the same rate.

c. Decline

The population will decline if the mortality or emigration rates increase to

higher than natality or immigration rates.

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Essential Biology 5.3 Populations Due Date:09-12-2010
Student Name:

4. In the space below, draw a population growth curve.

Annotate it to explain the exponential, transition and plateau phases and

carrying capacity (K).

I+N =E+M
K- Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity is reached so the
Plateau phase
population stabilizes because resources are
scarce and competition becomes high for
Transition phase them.

I+N> E+M

5. Exponential phase
Resources begin to be more scarce and the
competition increases because of the lack of
resources, the rate of growth slows but mortality rates
increase

I+N> E+M
State three factors that set limits to
There are abundant resources available, low population growth.
competition for resources and high reproduction
to create the population with low mortality rates
Three factors that limit
population growth are the
carrying capacity, the rate of reproduction and the starting population

6. Use the population growth tutorial here:

http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp54/5402002.html

What are the effects of:

a. Manipulating K?

If you manipulate K and make it higher than you can have a higher population, if
you make it lower you have a lower population.

b. Manipulating r?

If you manipulate r to higher, than you get more rapid population growth if you
make it lower the population grows slower.

c. Manipulating N0?

If the N0 is higher than there is less room for growth, if the N0 is lower than there is
more room for the population to grow.

Stephen Taylor Bandung International School

http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com
Essential Biology 5.3 Populations Due Date:09-12-2010
Student Name:

7. ToK Discussion: Read this passage from Thomas Malthus’ An Essay on the
Principles of Population, written in 1798. Find out more about Malthus and his
ideas.
"The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce
subsistence for man that premature death must in some shape or other visit
the human race. The vices of mankind are active and able ministers of
depopulation. They are the precursors in the great army of destruction, and
often finish the dreadful work themselves. But should they fail in this war of
extermination, sickly seasons, epidemics, pestilence, and plague advance in
terrific array, and sweep off their thousands and tens of thousands. Should
success be still incomplete, gigantic inevitable famine stalks in the rear, and
with one mighty blow levels the population with the food of the world."

a. What are his predictions for the population?

That if there is no premature death than the human race will face lack of resources.
There needs to be fatal diseases and deaths in order for the plant to provide the
necessary resources for the population.

b. Look at human population growth over the last 300 years. What was
the population in Malthus’ day? How about now? What about
predictions for 2050?
In Malthus’ time, the world population in developing countries was at around 1
billion people, and under 1 billion for industrialized countries. Today the population
for developing countries is at about 8.5 billion and 1.2 billion for industrialized. In
2050 the estimated population for developing countries is 10 billion and about 1.3
billion for industrialized countries.

c. How have we as a species been able to keep the human population in

the exponential phase for so long? Is this sustainable?
We have been able to keep the human population in the exponential phase for so
long by finding alternative resources to reduce competition for resources so that our
populations continue to grow. This is not sustainable because eventually everything
will become reduced and there will be competition for resources and the planet will
not be able to provide for the high number of people living on the planet.

Works Cited
1. Allott, Andrew. IB Study Guide: Biology for the IB Diploma. s.l. : Oxford
University Press, 2007. 978-0-19-915143-1.

Stephen Taylor Bandung International School

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Essential Biology 5.3 Populations Due Date:09-12-2010
Student Name:

Self Assessment:

Essential Biology Assessment

Criterion Complete (2) Partially complete (1) Self MrT
File names sensible, work complete and
Presentation & well-presented. Filed in order of topic,
NA
Organisation and easy to access. All command terms
highlighted or underlined.
Sources cited using the CSE (ISO 690
Academic
NA numerical) method, with Works Cited
Honesty section complete and correct.
All answers for the following command Most answers for the following
Objective 1 terms correct: command terms correct:
understanding Define Draw Label List Measure State
All answers for the following command Most answers for the following
Objective 2 terms correct: command terms correct:
understanding Annotate Apply Calculate Describe Distinguish Estimate
Identify Outline
All answers for the following command Most answers for the following
terms correct: command terms correct:
Objective3 Analyse Comment Compare Construct Deduce Derive Design
understanding Determine Discuss
Evaluate Explain Predict Show Solve Sketch
Suggest
Logic, Answers are presented in a logical and
concise manner. SI units used most
notation,
NA times, with correct unit symbols and
mathematical definitions of terms. All mathematical
working working shown.
Evidence is apparent of research and
reading beyond the textbook and
Further presentations to find correct answers to
NA challenging questions. If any questions
research
are unanswered, this criterion scores
zero.
Total (max 10):

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