Environmental Science: Chapter 8- Section 1 pg1

Chapter 8- Understanding Populations

Section 1: How Populations Change in Size
Populations are evidence of environmental problems. The balance between births and deaths
can lead to _stability___ or ____major ___changes_______.

Population- the set of individuals within a species living in the same place at the same time.
- Adults form a __reproductive group _____that only mate with members of their
population.*

I. Population Properties
Properties are how a population is described
1. Size
2. Density- The number of individuals of the same species per unit area or
___volume_________
Ex:

3. Dispersion- Describes the ______________________ of individuals in space, the pattern of

distribution of organisms in a population.
- Distribution- The relative arrangement of individuals in space
a. even Ex:
b. clumped Ex:
c. random Ex:

II. Growing Populations

Gains: Losses:
a. Growth Rates
Growth rate: The percentage change in the size of a population over a given period of time.

- Can be ____, ____, or _____

 Environmental Science: Chapter 8- Section 1 pg2

In order to be zero, each pair of adults must produce _______ offspring (_____)
b. Biotic Potential
When determining how fast a population can grow, we must consider _______ __________
organisms can reproduce because death rates can be high.

a. This can differ among species.

b. Reproductive potential- The ________________ ____________ of offspring that a given

organism can produce.
High:

c. Generation time; The average time it takes a member of the populations to reach the ________
when it reproduces.

d. Exponential growth
Exponential Growth- Growth in which the numbers increase by a certain
factor in each successive time period (A.K.A. _______________
___________________)

- Populations grow ________________________________

- Occur in nature when populations have plenty of _________,
_______, and _________ with little or no competition or
predators.

Ex:

III. Limiting Populations

Most populations do NOT grow at their reproductive potential

a. Carrying Capacity- The largest population that an environment can support at any given time.
- The population size where birth rates and death rates are equal
- The environment can support it ____________________
- Can grow beyond this point, but not for long
 Environmental Science: Chapter 8- Section 1 pg3

- Difficult to predict or calculate, but can be _________________

b. Resource Limits
- Limiting resource- A resource that is _______________ at the same rate the ecosystem
supplies it.
- The supply of the most severely limited resources determines the ________________
_________________ in a particular place at a particular time.

c. Competition within populations

- Members use the same resource in the same way
- Indirect competition through _________________ ________________, ______________,
space, shelter, food, _____________ __________

d. Patterns of loss
1. Density- dependent deaths- occur more quickly in a crowded population than in a
spaced out population.
Ex:

2. Density - independent deaths- a certain proportion dies reguardless of density.

Ex: