Module 5: Population Dynamics

population growth

It is important to relate _________ to resource use as biogeochemical cycles through ecosystems influence the rates at which populations of organisms reproduce

size
pattern

In the same manner, the ____ and ______ of distribution of populations of organisms influences biogeochemical cycles

Microorganisms

__________, for instance, are known to be key drivers of global biogeochemical cycles

Population size
productivity

_________ and _________ are intricately connected through both technologies and socio-cultural activities that allow us to harness energy as well as feed us

Essay on the Principle of Population
population dynamics

It was through Thomas Malthus’ ______________________ in 1798 that the first theoretical treatment of _____________ was proposed.

logistically
constant

At that time, Malthus described populations to grow ____________ under ideal environmental conditions. However, he also mentioned that growth of populations depended on ________ resource supply.

Pierre Francois Verhulst
logistic equation

The mathematical translation of this concept was made by ________________ in 1838, forming what is now known as the __________ : dN/dt = rN(1-N/K).

population size
intrinsic rate of increase
carrying capacity

In the logistic equation:

N represents the _______ while
r represents the ____________ in a given time period (t). Meanwhile,
K represents the ___________, the total number of individuals of a population that the finite environment can support

predator interaction

Alfred Lotka and Vito Volterra upgraded Verhulst’s linear single-species population dynamics equation to include the effect of another population, i.e. ____________.

demographic factors

Core to the study of population dynamics is understanding how _____________ influence population size

birth
death
immigration
emigration

These demographic factors are namely:

birth
immigration

ways which members of a population can enter the system: (which increases population size)

death
emigration

ways which members of a population can exit the system: (which causes the decline in population size)

life tables
survivorship curves
age structures

How demographic factors affect population expansion and shrinking rates can be visualized through ______, _______, and ______

Life table

____________ are a record of the birth and death rates for organisms at different life stages.

survivorship curve

A simplified graphical presentation of elements of the life table is called a ___________

age structure

Lastly, the __________ is literally a “groufie” of a population at a specific moment in time. Members of this population are clustered according to age and sex categories.

exponential growth model

The first population growth model represents growth of a population without environmental resistance factors

environmental resistance factors

These _________________________ are limits to population growth (e.g. predators, food, mates etc.)

exponential growth model
J shaped

This continuous population increase in an unlimited environment is called the ______________. This pattern of population growth yields a ___________ curved.

carrying capacity

However, Module 2 has demonstrated that resources are limited and can be depleted. This causes population growth to eventually slow down and stop. The part where population growth stops is what is termed as the ___________ of the environment.

Carrying capacity

________________ is the total number of individuals that the environment can support.

logistic growth model
S shaped

A _________________ shows that when resources get diminished, population growth rate will ultimately plateau. And this model produces an __________ population growth curve

Population Regulation

According to Molles (2010), environmental checks affect population growth by altering demographic processes such as birth and death rates.

density-dependent factors
density independent factors

These limits are classified into two types: ________________ and _________________.

density-dependent factors

Biotic factors like disease and predation which limit population growth are ________________.

density-dependent factors

The effects of these factors on birth and death intensifies as population increases in size.

density-independent factors

_____________________ are abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, weather, light intensity etc.) that exert the same influence on the population regardless if the population is large or small