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A population is a group of organisms in the same species that reproduce with each other.
When calculating the change in size of a population, we take into account four variables:
births and immigrations (in)
deaths and emigrations (out)
The equation is then:
Population Change = (births + immigrations) - (deaths + emigrations)
or
Population Change = (number in) - (number out)
What would happen if populations just kept growing?
What would happen if populations just kept growing?
If there was no limit on population growth, the world would be overrun with insects, rodents, and other pests because of how fast they reproduce.
Luckily, populations cannot grow forever.
Look at this graph.
The first chart represents exponential growth, or growth that never ends.
Luckily for those of us who hate rats, the natural world follows a logistic growth curve. This curve levels out at the carrying capacity.
Simply put, the carrying capacity is the maximum population a habitat can support for a given species.
Answer the questions about carrying capacity on your study guide.
But how is a carrying capacity determined?
But how is a carrying capacity determined?
The carrying capacity of a population is determined by limiting factors.
These factors can be density-dependent or density-independent.
Answer the questions about limiting factors on your study guide.
Checkpoint 3:
Checkpoint 3:
Submit your population growth assignment then come to class for the Kaibab Deer Population Analysis.
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