Population Ecology Kennesaw State University 种群生态学肯尼索州立大学.pptVIP

Population Ecology Elizabeth Petrie Jill Stittleburg Sherry Wiedman Today’s objectives: Define carrying capacity Describe how and why population growth rates change as the population approaches carrying capacity Discuss the “sixth extinction” and measurement of extinction rates Analyze human causes of extinction Changes in Population Size What causes populations to change in size? What are some factors that may limit population growth? Is there a point at which the population cannot grow anymore? Why or why not? Population growth is a function of birth rate and death rate- Limiting Factors- An environmental factor that prevents a population from increasing. There are 2 types of limiting factors: Density dependent factors Density independent factors Density- dependent factors Limiting factors that increase in intensity as the population increases in size. Will reduce birth rates or increase death rates Density-independent factors Influence population rates regardless of their density Carrying capacity The maximum population that can be supported indefinitely in a given environment Populations that are experiencing exponential growth eventually reach carrying capacity Population Growth When conditions are good, a population can grow exponentially The effects of declining resources gradually slow growth rate Growth rate declines to zero as it approaches carrying capacity If a population grows beyond the carrying capacity, a population crash may occur 14.1: The Sixth Extinction Vocabulary Extinction: complete loss of a species Biodiversity: entire variety of living organisms Endangered Species Act: law passed in 1973 with the purpose of protecting and encouraging the population growth of threatened and endangered species Endangered Species Act (ESA) Written and passed because humans seemed to be triggering the rapid rate at which species were being lost Ex: passenger pigeon, whooping crane, bald eagles, elephant seals Critics of ESA say that saving all spe