Ecology生态学.pptx

Ecology Part 4. Populations Part 5. Communities Part 6. Biodiversity and Conservation Population Characteristics Population Density: The number of organisms per unit area Spatial Distribution: Dispersion: The pattern of spacing a population within an area 3 main types of dispersion Clumped Uniform Random The primary cause of dispersion is resource availability Population Ecology: Population Characteristics Population Limiting Factors Population growth rate How fast a given population grows Factors that influence this are: Natality (____ rate) Mortality (_____ rate) Emigration (the number of individuals moving _________ a population) Immigration (the number of individuals _________ a population) Population Ecology: Population Characteristics birth death away from moving to Population Limiting Factors Density-independent factors Factors that limit population size, regardless of population density. These are usually abiotic factors They include natural phenomena, such as weather events Drought, flooding, extreme heat or cold, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, etc. Population Ecology: Density-independent factors Population Limiting Factors Density-dependent factors Any factor in the environment that depends on the number of members in a population per unit area Usually biotic factors These include Predation Disease Parasites Competition Population Ecology: Density-dependent factors Understanding Exponentials Put your pens down for a minute think about this: An employer offers you two equal jobs for one hour each day for fourteen days. The first pays $10 an hour. The second pays only 1 cent a day, but the rate doubles each day. Which job will you accept? Population Ecology: Population Growth Rate Understanding Exponentials Population Ecology: Population Growth Rate Job 2 lags for a long time before exponential growth kicks in! Now, how much would your employer owe you if you stayed at this job for another 2 weeks? What would happen if this type of growth to