Population Ecology (College Board AP® Biology) : Study Guide

Ruth Brindle

Written by: Ruth Brindle

Reviewed by: Cara Head

Updated on

Population growth

  • A population can be defined as:

a group of organisms of the same species, occupying a particular space at a particular time

  • Population dynamics are the changes in population size, structure and composition over time

  • Populations are influenced by interactions among individuals, their environment, and the availability of energy and resources

  • The growth or decline of a population depends on biotic factors and abiotic factors

  • Population growth is described using the equation:

fraction numerator d N over denominator d t end fraction equals B minus D

  • Where:

    • N is population size

    • dN/dt is the change in population size over time

    • B is the birth rate

    • D is the death rate

  • Exponential growth occurs when reproduction is unconstrained, following the equation:

    fraction numerator d N over denominator d t end fraction equals r subscript m a x end subscript N

    • Where:

      • dt = change in time

      • N = population size

      • rmax = maximum per capita growth rate of a population

  • This growth creates a J-shaped curve, characteristic of exponential growth

Worked Example

Reintroduction and conservation of the American beaver (Castor canadensis) has resulted in the population increasing from 60 000 to 250 000 individuals in one area of British Columbia, Canada in the period from 1970 to 2020.

castor-canadensis

The American beaver (Castor canadensis)

CC BY-SA 2.0, Steve, Washington DC, via Wikimedia Commons

The mean death rate over that period is estimated to be 1 200 animals per year

Calculate the average birth rate of population during the period 1970 to 2020.

Answer:

Step 1: calculate the change in population

  • Population at the end= 250 000

  • Population at the start = 60 000

  • Change in population = 250 000 - 60 000 = 190 000 beavers

Step 2: calculate the change in time

  • Ending year = 2020

  • Starting year = 1970

  • Change in time = 2020 - 1970 = 50 years

Step 3: calculate the average rate of change

Average space rate space of space population space change space equals space fraction numerator d N over denominator d t end fraction equals fraction numerator 190 space 000 over denominator 50 end fraction equals space 3 space 800 space per space year

Step 4: calculate the birth rate

dN over dt equals space Birth space rate space minus space death space rate

  • 3 800 = Birth rate - 1 200

  • Average birth rate = 5000 per year

Population density

  • Various constraints impact population growth:

    • Density-dependent factors are factors that have a stronger effect as population density increases

      • E.g. competition for resources, predation, disease

    • Density-independent factors affect populations regardless of population density

      • E.g. natural disasters, extreme weather

The logistic growth model

  • When density-dependent and density-independent factors limit population growth, logistic growth usually occurs

  • The logistic model produces a population growth curve which is sigmoid, or S-shaped

  • Such curves contain four phases:

    • lag phase

      • The initial stage of population growth

      • Characterized by slow growth and a small population size

      • Organisms are adapting to their environment with low levels of reproduction

    • exponential phase

      • Also known as the logarithmic phase

      • Here there are no factors that limit population growth, so the population increases exponentially

      • The number of individuals increases, and so does the rate of growth

      • This part of the curve is J-shaped

    • transition phase

      • As the population size increases, the density may increase past the threshold that can be supported by the system resource availability

      • Limiting factors start to act on the population, eg. competition increases and predators are attracted to large prey populations

      • The rate of growth slows, though the population is still increasing

    • plateau phase

      • Also known as the stationary phase

      • Limiting factors cause the death rate to equal the birth rate and population growth stops

      • This plateau occurs at the carrying capacity where the environment cannot sustain any further increase in population

      • The population size often fluctuates slightly around the carrying capacity

Graph showing population growth phases: lag, exponential, transitional, and plateau. Includes carrying capacity line and fluctuating population size.
The logistic population growth curve shows the different phases population growth over time

Equation for the logistic growth model

  • The logistic growth model is described by the following equation:

fraction numerator d N over denominator d t end fraction equals space r subscript m a x end subscript N space open parentheses fraction numerator K minus N over denominator K end fraction close parentheses

  • Where:

    • dt is the change in time

    • N the population size

    • rmax is the maximum per capita growth rate of the population

    • K is the carrying capacity

  • The essence of this equation is that when N is large (near to the carrying capacity), then the term in brackets will be close to zero, so the growth rate will be small

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Ruth Brindle

Author: Ruth Brindle

Expertise: Biology Content Creator

Ruth graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in Biology and went on to teach Science in London whilst also completing an MA in innovation in Education. With 10 years of teaching experience across the 3 key science disciplines, Ruth decided to set up a tutoring business to support students in her local area. Ruth has worked with several exam boards and loves to use her experience to produce educational materials which make the mark schemes accessible to all students.

Cara Head

Reviewer: Cara Head

Expertise: Biology Content Creator

Cara graduated from the University of Exeter in 2005 with a degree in Biological Sciences. She has fifteen years of experience teaching the Sciences at KS3 to KS5, and Psychology at A-Level. Cara has taught in a range of secondary schools across the South West of England before joining the team at SME. Cara is passionate about Biology and creating resources that bring the subject alive and deepen students' understanding