Natural population size varies

biotic potential - characteristics of the

species may make it easier for the population to increase environmental resistance - factors that prevent the population from growing too large (and exceeding the available resources)

Population growth curves

J curve - the fastest (exponential) rate of
population growth J curve is the rate the population would increase if these was no effect from environmental resistance S curve - environmental resistance brings the population size into balance with the available resources

Carrying capacity
the number of individuals the environment
can support on a long term basis without destroying the resources that supply the ecosystem carrying capacity can change example: agriculture has increased the carrying capacity for food resources for human populations (for pest species too!)

Carrying capacity
population size
in balance with availability of resources uses resources at same rate they are replaced doesn't deplete resources or destroy habitat

The dark orange color represents individuals removed from the population by environmental resistance - thus decreasing population growth

Human population growth - J or S curve?

Population Clock
how fast is the world's population growing?
(right click, select "open hyperlink")

Total Fertility Rate

total fertility
rate (TFR) average # children per woman replacement TFR = about 2.1 why?

Population Calculations

1. growth rate (GR) = BR DR

2. percent growth rate

(GR / 1000) * 100 * quick tip - just move the decimal point one place to the left 3. doubling time (DT) = 70 / PGR

TABLE 1-1. POPULATION COMPARISONS 2008

Source: Population Reference Bureau. World Population Data Sheet. Washington, DC. 2008.
POP (millions) PGR 2008 DT (years) PERCENT BELOW AGE 15 PERCENT ABOVE AGE 65 AVG ANNUAL INCOME 2006 ($)

COUNTRY

TFR

how do changes in DT and TFR affect standard of living?

World

6,625

1.2

58

2.7

27

9,940

Russia Japan France Norway

142 128 62 4.7

- 0.5 0.0 0.4 0.4

------175 175

1.3 1.3 2.0 1.9

15 14 18 19

14 21 16 15

11,620 33,730 32,130 43,920

China
Australia

1,318
21 302 71 189 1,132 107 149 169 77 144

0.5
0.6 0.6 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.5

140
117 117 58 50 44 41 37 30 28 28

1.6
1.8 2.1 2.0 2.3 2.9 2.4 3.0 4.1 5.4 5.9

20
20 20 29 28 33 32 33 40 43 48

8
13 12 5 6 5 6 4 4 3 3

7,730
31,860 44,260 8,480 8,800 3,800 11,330 2,340 2,500 1,190 1,150

U.S. Iran Brazil India Mexico

Bangladesh

Pakistan Ethiopia Nigeria

Education level has a strong influence on family size in developing and developed countries

TFR

note: see examples in the following two slides

teen mothers - Lincoln HS Lincoln, Nebraska

Population Profiles -

age distribution diagrams

can be shown in percentage of population or with actual population numbers

Nigeria

broader base of the pyramid (represents birth rate), the faster the population is growing

 approximate
rectangle indicates zero population growth birth rate is equal to death rate interesting
note: what happens to the gender ratios in old age?
Germany

Broad base fuels rapid population growth as children reach reproductive age