13.0 POPULATION ECOLOGY
(2 HOURS)
Learning outcomes :
13.1 Population Growth
(a) Explain biotic potential (r) and environmental resistance and their effect on population growth
(b) Explain carrying capacity and its importance (c) Describe natality and mortality and their effects on the rate of population growth Learning outcomes :
13.1 Population Growth
(d) Explain population growth curves
(state the basic forms of growth curves) i. Exponential growth curve (human) ii. Logistic growth curve (Paramecium sp.)
(e) Explain the limiting factors affecting the population size :
i. Density dependent factors ii. Density independent factors
Population Ecology
• The study of variables
• That determine the population density and distributions
• Of a population in time and space
Learning Outcomes :
13.1 (a): Explain biotic potential (r) and environmental resistance and their effects on population growth
Biotic Potential (r) :
The number of offspring of an individual organism that would survive to reproductive age under ideal condition Learning Outcomes :
13.1 (a): Explain biotic potential (r) and environmental resistance and their effects on population growth
FIGURE 1
Learning Outcomes :
13.1 (a): Explain biotic potential (r) and environmental resistance and their effects on population growth
Biotic Potential is influenced by :
1. The age beginning of reproduction
2. How often reproduction occurs
3. How many offspring are born at a time
Learning Outcomes :
13.1 (a): Explain biotic potential (r) and environmental resistance and their effects on population growth
Biotic Potential & its Effect on Population
Growth
• Biotic potential (r) also varies according to the age structure of a population
• It also may influence by male : female ratios
• When conditions are optimal and there are no limitations, a population can grow at its maximum biotic potential (the vital index, rmax)
• However,