Population Dynamics, Carrying Capacity, and Conservation Biology Chapter 9

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Population Dynamics, Carrying Capacity, and
Conservation BiologyChapter 9
In looking at naturenever forget that every
single organic being around us may be said to be
striving to increase its numbers. Charles
Darwin, 1859
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Key Concepts

• Factors affecting population size
• Species reproductive patterns
• Species survivorship patterns
• Conservation biology and human impacts on
  ecosystems

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Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity

• Population dynamics
• Zero population growth (ZPG)
• Biotic potential (intrinsic rate of increase r)
• Environmental resistance
• Carrying capacity
• Minimum viable population (MVP)

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Population Dispersion
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Factors Affecting Population Size
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Exponential and Logistic Growth
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Population Density Effects

• Density-independent controls
• Density-dependent controls

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Natural Population Curves
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The Role of Predation in Controlling Population
Size

• Predator-prey cycles
• Bottom-up control

• Top-down control

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Reproductive Patterns and Survival

• Asexual reproduction
• Sexual reproduction

• r-selected species
• K-selected species

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Question

• Why are pest species likely to be extreme
  r-selected species?
• Why are many endangered species likely to be
  extreme K-selected species?

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Survivorship Curves
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Conservation Biology Sustaining Wildlife
Populations

• Investigating human impacts on biodiversity
• Ideas for maintaining biodiversity
• Endangered species management
• Wildlife reserves and ecological restoration
• Ecological economics
• Environmental ethics
• Wildlife management

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Human Impacts on Ecosystems

• Habitat degradation and fragmentation
• Ecosystem simplification
• Genetic resistance
• Predator elimination
• Introduction of non-native species
• Over harvesting renewable resources
• Interference with ecological systems

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Learning From Nature

• Interdependence
• Diversity
• Resilience
• Adaptability
• Unpredictability
• Limits

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Assignment

• In groups of fourchoose one wild plant species
  and one animal species and analyze the factors
  that are likely to limit the populations of each
  species.
• Make an informational poster about the species
  (you will have two one plant and one animal) on
  half of a piece of paper and then make an
  informational poster about the limitations on the
  other half.