Chapter 10

Population Distributions
 CHAPTER 1O CONCEPTS
The distribution of populations is limited to ecologically
1 suitable habitats.
Population distributions have five important
2 characteristics.
The distribution properties of populations can be
3 estimated.
 The distribution of populations is limited to ecologically suitable habitats.
1
Distributions of populations
Spatial structure: the pattern of density and spacing of individuals in
a population.
Fundamental niche: the range of abiotic conditions (e.g.,
temperature, humidity, salinity) under which a species can persist.

Realized niche: the range of abiotic and biotic conditions under

which a species can persist.
Geographic range: a measure of the total area covered by a
population
1
Distributions of populations
 Joseph Connell
(1923-2020)

Connell, J.H., 1961. The influence of interspecific competition and other factors on the distribution of the barnacle Chthamalus
stellatus. Ecology, 42(4), pp.710-723.
1
Determining Suitable Habitat

Small-scale variation in the environment creates

geographic ranges that are composed of small
patches of suitable habitat.
Example:
The geographic range of Rhizophora mangle.
 Geographic range
Rhizophora mangle

Region of
Rhizophora mangle

Small patches of
suitable habitat
RHIZOPHORA MANGLE EN LOS BORDES
B O S Q U E E S TATA L D E P I Ñ O N E S
1
We can test whether species
are limited by unsuitable
environmental conditions.
Example:
The Lewis’ monkeyflower lives
at high elevations, whereas the
scarlet monkeyflower lives at
low elevations.
1
Ecological niche modeling
As a general rule, populations can grow larger in more suitable
habitats.
Understanding the realized niche of a species aids in species
conservation and can help to limit the spread of invasive species.
Ecological niche modeling: the process of determining the suitable
habitat conditions for a species.
Ecological envelope: the range of ecological conditions that are
predicted to be suitable for a species
1
Modeling invasive species

Chinese bush clover

Lespedeza cuneata
1
Effects of global warming
During the past
century, the
average
temperature of
the Earth has
increased by
0.8°C.

Temperature
change can
cause a shift in
the geographic
range of species.
POPULATION DISTRIBUTIONS HAVE FIVE
IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS.
2
Population distributions have five important
characteristics.
1. Geographic Range

2. Abundance

3. Density

4. Dispersion

5. Dispersal
2
Population characteristics
1. Geographic Range – all the areas a species occupy during their
life.

Endemic: species that live in a single, often isolated, location.

Cosmopolitan: species with very large geographic ranges that can

span several continents.
2. Abundance: the total 3. Density: in a
number of individuals in population, the number
a population that exist of individuals per unit
within a defined area area or volume;
(e.g., total number of calculated by dividing
lizards on a mountain). abundance by area.
2
Population abundance and density
Example:
Cardisoma guanhumi – Juey Month 2017 Abundance Density
Reserva Natural Humedal #/100 m2
Punta Tuna, Maunabo, PR December 4 0.04
Estudiante: Jesús Quiñones January 0 0
February 3 0.03
March 4 0.04
April 15 0.15
May 17 0.17
June 7 0.07
July 5 0.05
August 8 0.08
September 4 0.04
2
Population
dispersion

4. Dispersion
(distribución): the spacing
of individuals with respect to
one another within the
geographic range of a
population.
2

Sulfur tuft fungi

Hypholoma fasciculare
2

Blue-eyed cormorants
Phalacrocorax atriceps
2

Dandelium
Taraxacum spp
2
Population dispersal
5. Dispersal: (dispersión) the movement of individuals from one
area to another.

Dispersal is distinct from migration, which is the seasonal movement

of individuals back and forth between habitats.
 The distribution properties of populations can be estimated.
3
Quantifying individuals
Census: counting every
individual in a population.
Conducting a census is not
feasible for most species, so
scientists conduct a survey, in
which they count a subset of the
population.

Area- and volume-based

surveys: surveys that define the
boundaries of an area or volume
and then count all of the
individuals in the space.
3
Quantifying individuals
Line-transect surveys: surveys that count the number of individuals
observed as one moves along a line.
This data can be converted into area
estimates of a population.
3
Quantifying individuals
Mark-recapture survey

Population size is estimated by assuming that:

 LINCOLN-PETERSON MODEL

Population size = Initially  captured   individual  ∗  Total  individual   captures   in  2 nd  sample
𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑠

Hacienda La
Esperanza, Manatí
Area del Huerto Diciembre Enero Febrero Marzo Abril Mayo Junio Julio Agosto Sept.

Capturas totales 6 4 6 8 2 11 14 23 10 5

Recapturas 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 1 0

Capturas nuevas 6 4 4 6 2 11 12 21 9 5
Marcados
cumulativo 6 10 14 20 22 33 45 66 75 80

                     

Población     42 80     315 759 750  

3
Quantifying dispersal
Dispersal can be quantified by
measuring how far individuals
travel from a single source
location.

Lifetime dispersal
distance: the average
distance an individual
moves from where it was
born to where it
reproduces.
3
Quantifying dispersal
Dispersal can cause a geographic range to expand rapidly if a few
individuals can disperse much farther than the average individual.
Example:
By marking different species of songbirds with leg bands, researchers found that
lifetime dispersal distances average 344–1,681 m.
For starling populations, the existence of a few long-dispersal individuals allowed
populations to spread 4,000 km within 60 years.
 TRACKING TURTLES AND SHARKS

• https://conserveturtles.org/sea-turtle-tracking-active-sea-turt
les
/
• https://www.ocearch.org/tracker/