Population Ecology Reading Packet

A population is a number of the same organisms that live in the same place at
the same time. Ecologists are interested in populations. They study why populations
grow and how can we predict how big our population will be in the future? Many
characteristics of population growth are the same for other organisms as they are for
humans. By studying population growth in other species, you may be able to come up
with answers to these questions.
Part A Population Changes
Weeds!! Those pesky little plants are a real
problem to gardeners. Look at the picture of the
field of dandelions to the right. Why do these
plants crop up so quickly and in such large
numbers?
We can study how populations of
dandelions grow to understand how our own
population will grow. All populations--whether
human, plant or animal--are always changing.
Changing with the environment
Ecosystems are always changing. Sometimes they change quickly as in the case
of fire or flood. They also can change slowly. As young saplings grow into adult trees
that shade the ground below them, shade-loving plants slowly replace grasses.
Changes in an ecosystem affect the communities of organisms that live there.
Ecologists study ecosystem changes and they see patterns that help explain how the
ecosystem has developed. The patterns can be used to predict what might happen if
an ecosystem is messed up. Limiting factors are one thing that affects an ecosystem.
Limiting factors
Why do more organisms live in near the equator than near the North Pole? You
would probably say that it’s warmer and easier to find food near the equator. Food
and temperature are examples of limiting factors. Limiting factors are anything in the
environment that keeps a population from growing forever. Limiting factors can be
abiotic or biotic. An abiotic limiting factor is any non-living thing that keeps numbers of
organisms in check. For example, a grass population will increase if it has lots of
sunshine but will decrease if the area not getting any rain. The amount of rain is an
abiotic factor. A biotic factor is any living thing that keeps a population from increasing
forever. For example, the deer population in Maine is kept in check or is limited by how
many hunters get their deer. The hunters are a biotic factor.
Because all members of a food web are connected, factors that limit one
population in a community may also have an effect on other populations. For
example, a lack of water could limit the growth of grass. The population of rabbits that
eat the grass might decrease since there isn’t as much grass. What about hawks that
feed on rabbits? Their numbers may be reduced too as a result of a decrease in their
food supply.

Part A Population Dynamics Review

 1. What is a population?

A population is a number of the same organisms that live in the same place at

the same time.

2. What is the name given to anything in the environment that keeps a population
from growing out of control?
Limiting factors are anything in the

environment that keeps a population from growing forever.

3. Give an example of a biotic limiting factor for a robin population.

robin such as predator-prey interactions, food supply and habitat. resources differently.
Therefore, they will not be limited to the same population size by the same available resources.

4. Give an example of an abiotic limiting factor for a pine tree.

Shallow rooted plant, mosses, ferns, and lichen live on pine tree.

Limiting mean any biotic or a biotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or
distribution.

5. What is the word that means a living organism that keeps a population from
growing out of control?

A limiting factor is anything that constrains a population's size and slows or stops it from
growing. Some examples of limiting factors are biotic, like food, mates, and competition
with other organisms for resources.

6. What is the word that means a non-living factor that keeps a population from
growing out of control?Abiotic or physical limiting factors are non-living things such as
temperature, wind, climate, sunlight, rainfall, soil composition, natural disasters, and pollution
Population Density Problems
Figure out the population density for each problem. Make sure you use the right
units in your answer.

1. Two years ago there were 48 students in Mrs. Bolvin’s and Mr. Martin’s
classrooms. What is the population density of one classroom? Give your
answer in students/classroom?

2. In June of 2000, there were 560 dandelions in an area of a field that

measures 9 meters by 6 meters. What is the population density in
dandelions per m2.

3. What is the population density of 400 robins living on 40 acres of land?

4. If there are 186 armadillos living in 62 square miles of Texas, what is the
population density? Give your answer in armadillos per square mile.

5. 20 bears live in 4 square kilometers. What is the population density in bears

per square kilometer?

6. 900,000 grass plants live on the football field. If a football field is 50 yards
wide and 100 yards long, what is the density of the grass plants in plants per
square yard?