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Population Size Notes

- Population size refers to the number of individuals in a population. It changes due to factors like birth rate, death rate, immigration and emigration. - When birth rate exceeds death rate, the population increases. When death rate is higher, the population decreases. When the rates are equal, the population remains constant. - A study of yeast population growth over time shows lag phase with slow growth, log phase with rapid exponential growth, stationary phase where growth balances mortality, and death phase where deaths exceed births causing population decline. Environmental factors ultimately limit population growth.

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324 views

Population Size Notes

- Population size refers to the number of individuals in a population. It changes due to factors like birth rate, death rate, immigration and emigration. - When birth rate exceeds death rate, the population increases. When death rate is higher, the population decreases. When the rates are equal, the population remains constant. - A study of yeast population growth over time shows lag phase with slow growth, log phase with rapid exponential growth, stationary phase where growth balances mortality, and death phase where deaths exceed births causing population decline. Environmental factors ultimately limit population growth.

Uploaded by

Thapelo Jeremiah
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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POPULATION SIZE

- Population is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same habitat at the
same time.
- Since the individuals of a population are of the same species, they can mate and
produce fertile offspring (they can breed/reproduce together).
- The individuals of the same species can belong to different populations after being
divided into separate populations by rivers, mountains and Islands.
- Organisms of the same species but of different populations can only interbreed if there
is migration.
Population size
- This refers to the number of individuals in a population.
- Over many years, populations tend to remain at the same level due to some stabilizing
factors such as birth and death; immigration and emigration.
- Population size changes due to birth, death, immigration and emigration. When birth
rate is higher than death rate, population increases. If death rate is higher than birth
rate (due to war, pandemics, birth control, natural disasters like earthquakes and
floods), the population decreases.
- When birth rate and death rate are equal, population remains constant.
How population size changes over time
Changes in population sizes of bacteria and fungi are usually studied these reproduce
quickly, are easy to grow and they do not need a lot of space.
Growth of the population of yeast
******Diagram (fig. 20.12 page 273, Mary Jones, IGCSE Biology)
Lag phase
- Population grows quite slowly. There are few cells dividing (not many cells are there to
reproduce). The yeast cells are still acclimatizing (they are still adjusting to the new
environment).
Log phase/exponential growth
- Growth rate is very rapid. Large number of cells are reproducing. The yeast cells have
acclimatized. There are plenty of resources (nutrients, space etc.) and no limiting
factors.
Stationary phase
- Population remains constant during this phase. The rate at which new yeast cells are
being formed is equal to the rate at which the old cells are dying.
- Death of yeast cells increases due to competition for nutritional resources, space and
possible poisoning by the alcohol that is produced during fermentation. The yeast cells
also get poisoned by their own excreta.
Death phase
- Population declines/decreases
- Number of yeast cells dying are more than those being formed.
- Increased death is due to poisoning by excreta and alcohol, insufficient food supply,
overcrowding and disease spreading due to overcrowding
The growth curve is also called a sigmoid curve (due to its ‘S’ shape. In the wild, the levelling off
of the population is normally caused by an environmental factor such as predators.
Limiting factor
- It is a factor that restricts the effect of others. It is either the least available or its effect
has reached its optimum. In this study, it is a factor that stops the population from
increasing. In reality, there is no single limiting factor. The limiting factors are always
interacting. Food availability, population of predators, infection by pathogens, migration
and space interact together to limit population growth.

Human population
Over the past 250 years, the human population showed a long lag phase (slow increase) due
to the following:
- Malnutrition, diseases, wars, lack of shelter, poor preparedness against natural disasters
such as famine, epidemics, earthquakes and tsunamis.
In recent years, the population increase has been exponential (fast increase) due to:
- Improved agriculture (better nutrition) resulting in less starvation and less malnutrition
- Improved health care resulting in reduced infant mortality rate,
vaccinations/immunizations against infections, increased availability of medicines (like
antibiotics), widespread birth control (contraceptive techniques)
- Improved sanitation leading to increased availability of clean water and effective waste
disposal and treatment.
- High levels of education
Populations are usually shown in the form of pyramids.
****Diagrams (page 275, Mary Jones, IGCSE Biology)

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