Biology 30
Population Dynamics
Information
Major Text: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Inquiry into Biology, Chapter 20.
Lab Exercises: Dynamics of a Small Mammal Population
Evaluation:
A test is to be written at the end of this unit.. It will cover all of the objectives listed below. There will also be material related to Hardy-Weinberg on this exam. You must have your lab write-ups approved by a Biology teacher in order to get test permission.
Introduction:
Recall that a population is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area. The success of that population depends on many things, like how it interacts with other populations in the greater community, and its reproductive strategy. In these units you will examine the many different factors that can impact a population.
Objectives: When you have completed the learning activities for this unit you will be expected to address the following:
1. Define genetic drift, the bottleneck effect, the founder effect, heterozygote advantage and gene flow as well as perform Hardy-Weinberg calculations and identify the conditions related to the Hardy-Weinberg principle. Explain how allele frequencies in a population can change. (section 19.2)
2. Differentiate between a population and a community. (page 678-679)
3. Calculate population density. (pages 704-705)
4. List and explain the 3 types of distribution patterns. (pages 705-707)
5. Describe certain factors that would cause each of the three distribution patterns. (pages
705-707)
6. Calculate the change in population size, the rate of population growth and per capita
growth rate. (pages 707-709)
7. Explain how growth rate can have a negative value. (page 708)
8. Describe what factors can influence biotic potential. (page 709)
9. Differentiate between an exponential growth pattern and a logistic growth pattern.
Identify the types of organisms that would exhibit each. (pages 709-712)
10. Explain how environmental resistance can affect the growth of a population. (page
712)
11. Distinguish between a K-selected strategy and an r-selected strategy. (pages 712-713)
12. Differentiate between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition. (pages
717-719)
13. Describe the population patterns of a predator/prey relationship. (pages 719-721)
14. Describe how some organisms defend themselves from predation by using protective
coloration, Batesian mimicry and Mullerian mimicry. (page 723)
15. Describe the three types of symbiosis. (pages 723-725)
16. Explain the difference between primary succession and secondary succession. (page
726)
17. Differentiate between a pioneer community and a climax community. (page 726)
18. Explain how an ecological disturbance can bring about secondary succession. (Page
726-728)
19. Describe the growth pattern of the human population. (page 733)
20. Give examples of how our population growth has affected other populations and how
that can affect us in return.( pages 731-732)
21. Analyze age pyramids to determine the population growth patterns of certain
countries. (page 735)
22. Identify Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle as it applies to real or hypothetical
situations. (Appendix A – Gause’s Principle)
Learning Activities: When doing the readings for this unit, take notes as you see fit. Pay close attention to bold terms and diagrams. The practice questions at the end of each section might be helpful.
1. You are responsible for the information presented in chapters 19 - 20 in the textbook as well as Appendix A
2. Do as many of the review questions from the text as you find necessary to master the material. The following questions should definitely be considered: page 688 1-8, page 697 1-8, page 716 1-9, page 730 1-5, page 737 1-3. The chapter 20 review on pages 740-741 might also be helpful. The answers to all text questions can be found on D2L.
Population Dynamics Text Answers
3. Vocabulary check: Be able to define the following terms:
heterozygote advantage
natural selection
population density
uniform distribution
clumped distribution
random distribution
growth rate
per capita growth rate
biotic potential
exponential growth
logistic growth
carrying capacity
density dependent factors
density independent factors
environmental resistance
R-selected
K-selected
intraspecific competition
interspecific competition
predatory / prey interactions
protective coloration
cryptic coloration
Batesian mimicry
Mullerian mimicry
symbiosis mutualism
commensalism
parasitism
primary succession
secondary succession
pioneer community
climax community
ecological disturbance
sustainability
age pyramid
competitive exclusion
Genetic drift
Bottleneck effect
founder effect
gene flow
4. Attend the optional seminars for this topic. The schedule can be found on the white board in the science resource centre. The seminar schedule is also posted on D2L. The seminar handouts are available in the science resource centre and on D2L. If you can’t make the seminar, check out the seminar clip on D2L related to this topic.
Population Dynamics Seminar Presentation
5. Perform the following lab activity: Dynamics of a Small Mammal Population. Specific instructions are found in the link:
6. Complete the self-test that follows in this learning guide.
Evaluation: After completing all of the above exercises, have your lab write-up approved by a biology teacher and get test permission. Go to the testing centre to write the exam for Population Dynamics. Remember that there will be Hardy-Weinberg questions on your test!