Life Sciences: Population ecology

Grade 11
Lesson 45

Presenter: Dr. Grizelda van Wyk

 POPULATION ECOLOGY

Population ecology is the study of populations in relationship to

their environment and the social interactions amongst each other.
 TERMINOLOGY
Species: A group of organisms with similar characteristic, that are able to
interbreed to produce fertile offspring. E.g. giraffe, zebra.
 TERMINOLOGY
Population: A group of organisms of the same species occupying the same
habitat at the same time and can interbreed randomly. E.g. Population of
zebras in the Manyeleti game reserve.
 TERMINOLOGY
Community: A group of populations occurring in a particular area. E.g. lion,
zebra, giraffe populations in the Manyeleti game reserve.
 TERMINOLOGY
Natality: Is the birth rate of a population, normally expressed as the number
of births per thousand individuals per year.


 TERMINOLOGY
Mortality: Is the death rate of a population, normally expressed as the
number of deaths per thousand individuals per year.
 TERMINOLOGY
Immigration: is the one-way movement of organisms into an area where
they become established.
Emigration: is the one-way movement of organisms out of an area to
become established.
 POPULATION SIZE

Population size is influenced by both abiotic and biotic factors present in

the environment.

Factors that influence population size include:

• natality
• mortality
• migration (including immigration and emigration)
POPULATION SIZE
 POPULATION SIZE
Population size: Total number of individuals in a population.
Population density: refers to the number of individuals of a population per
unit area, e.g. 10 goats per hectare (100 m X 100 m)
 POPULATION LIMITING FACTORS

Shortage of food and water

 POPULATION LIMITING FACTORS

Shortage of shelter or living space

Cattle grazing in areas where wild

animals occur. Making their grazing
areas smaller.
POPULATION LIMITING FACTORS

Predation
POPULATION LIMITING FACTORS

Diseases and parasitism

POPULATION LIMITING FACTORS

Accumulation of toxins
 FLUCTUATIONS IN POPULATION SIZE
Once a population has reached its maximum size, the population size will
not remain constant, but fluctuate within the narrow boundaries due to
changes in the environmental resistance (limiting factors)

Population size may fluctuate annually or seasonally.

 FLUCTUATIONS IN POPULATION SIZE: CARRYING CAPACITY
• The number of individuals an environment can support in a specific season.
• Population size may fluctuate in natural populations around the carrying capacity This is
known as a stable population size.
 FLUCTUATIONS IN POPULATION SIZE: CARRYING CAPACITY
• If populations exceed their environmental carrying capacity, there will not be
enough resources to sustain the population.
• The population size will fall because of increased environmental resistance.
 FLUCTUATIONS IN POPULATION SIZE
Factors affecting population growth
 ACTIVITY
A population of mice in a field of mealies was studied for one week.
The population parameters (per thousand mice) were calculated for that week.
Six months later the investigation was repeated. The results are recorded in a table.

The rate of change of a population can be calculated by the following formula:

Rate of change = (birth rate + immigration rate) – (death rate + emigration rate)
 ACTIVITY

Calculate the rate of change for the first survey.

Rate of change = (birth rate + immigration rate) – (death rate +emigration rate)
= (110 + 10) ✓ – (145 + 10) ✓
= 120 – 155 ✓
= – 35 ✓
 ACTIVITY

What was happening to the size of the population in the first survey? Give a reason
for your answer.

Decreased ✓; the rate of change is negative. ✓

 ACTIVITY

Calculate the rate of change for the second survey.

Rate of change = (birth rate + immigration rate) – (death rate + emigration rate)
= (270 + 30) ✓– (200 + 70) ✓
= 300 – 270 ✓
= 30 ✓
 ACTIVITY

What was happening to the size of the population in the second survey?
Increased ✓
The difference in the rate of change between the two investigations is a result of which
possible factors?
Decrease in predation and disease ✓
Decrease in competition for food, space, and mates ✓
 ACTIVITY

Distinguish between the concepts: population size and population

density

• Population size ✓– refers to the total number of individuals in a

population ✓
• Population density ✓– refers to the number of individuals of a population

per unit area ✓

QUESTIONS

How many of the following were there in

1966?

(a) Rabbits
50 ✓

(b) Wild dogs

200 - 220 ✓
QUESTIONS

What is the maximum number of rabbits that have

ever survived in this environment?

500 ✓
THANK YOU