Chapter 3: part 02

POPULATION ECOLOGY

Thanh-Son Dao, A/ Prof. PhD.

Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources
Hochiminh City University of Technology
 Chapter 3 – part 02: Population Ecology

4.1. General definitions

4.2. Relations among the organisms in a population

4.3. Characteristics of population

4.4. Alterations of organism densities in a population

4.5. Applied population ecology

2
4.1. General definitions

• Population represent groups of individuals of single species, all of the members of

which they can interbreed

• Population ecology studies how populations grow and they are limited by food,
competitors, and natural enemies

3
4.1. General definitions

Every population owns a gene collection forming a general genetics which reveal in
each individual of the population.

Each individual has a different genotype to another, in the population

Population genetics relate to the population ecology (e.g. capacity of adaptation, tolerance,
reproduction…).

Plants and (less active) animal populations are more regulated by their environmental
conditions

Organisms in a population which could not adapt with their surrounding alterations tend to leave for a
new habitat or to be killed.

In case of migrating to a new habitat, the organisms would form a new population

4
4.1. General definitions

4.2. Relations among the organisms in a population

4.2.1. Supporting (positive)
4.2.2. Competition (negative)
4.2.3. Communication
5
4.2.1. Supporting relation

Supporting relation induces positive out comes of the organism group.

This relation occurs when the habitat is large enough and/or the living conditions are
suitable.
(video clips: bird migration , duck & fox)

6
4.2.2. Competition relation

Competition happens when the density of organisms in the population is (too) high and
living conditions do not proceed the demand of all organisms

Competitions in plants
Competitions in animals (clip of competition – intra & inner species)

7
4.2.3. Communication among the organisms in the population

Communication is very important for the maintainance of group organization (of the
organisms)

Tools for communication are “languages” which are very diverse

(1) biochemical (smell/ chemical) communication
(2) eye /color and position communication
(3) sound communication
(4) contact/ touch communication

Video clips: behavioral birds, glowing creatures light

8
4.3. The basic characteristics of population

4.3.1. Gender structure

4.3.2. Age structure

4.3.3. Distribution of organisms in population

4.3.4. Density

4.3.5. Reproduction rate

4.3.6. Mortality rate

4.3.7. Spread of the population

9
4.3.1. Gender structure
Gender structure reveals the reproductive effectiveness of the population under the
alterations of the environment. Generally, gender structure is 1 male: 1 female

4.3.2. Age structure

Age structure relates
to Three typical age structures (pyramid) of men
the exploitation of the
90
living/ environmental
conditions; 65

reproductive capacity; 45

population 15
development; 6

the stability of the

population A B C

10
4.3.2. Age structure

11
theoretical age distribution of two populations for tree
4.3.2. Age structure

Population recovery depends on the life span and reproductive characteristics of the
species

Short life span animals

Short life span animals: early maturation, higher birth & mortality rate; so high
variation of abundance in the population.
However, they are easy to recover their population in nature
E.g. When 85% of mouse population was killed, but 3 – 6 months thereafter the
abundance of the population was completely recovered.

Long life span animals

They have: late maturation, low birth & dead rate, hence alteration of population
abundance is low, then low population recovery
E.g. Asian elephants have a life span of ~ 50 – 70 years old, they reach their
maturity age of 8 – 12 years old, reproduce one off spring every 4 year

12
4.3.2. Age structure

Short and long life span of tree

4.3.2. Age structure

Population size and age of animals

4.3.3. Distribution of organisms in a population

Each population has a certain habitat for living

The habitat provides living conditions for organisms’ demands.
The exploitation/usage of living conditions of the population depends on:
number of organisms & their distribution in an area.

3 types of distribution:
Uniform distribution (e.g. planted forest, rice field, fruit garden…).

Random distribution (e.g. larvae in a vegetable garden)

Both uniform and random distributions are not common/ popular in nature

Group distribution: common in nature especially for animals

15
4.3.3. Distribution of organisms in a population

3 types of distribution:

* * * * * * * * * * ** * ** * *** *** **** **

* * * * * * * ** * *** ** ***
* * * * * * ** * * *** * ** * *
* * * * * ** * * * * * * **** ** * ** ****
* * * * ** * * * * ** * * * *** **** *** **
* * * ** * * * * *
* * ** * * * * * * ** ** * * *** ** **** *** ***
* * ** *** *** ***

Uniform Random Group

16
4.3.3. Distribution of organisms in a population

Group distribution of organisms makes them to well adapt with

environmental/ecological conditions

It is influenced by the organisms’ characteristics (reproduction, migration, group organization…)

17
4.3.4. Population density

Density = number of organisms per square/ volume.

Number = individuals, (wet, dried) weight/ mass, energy (calo)

For equal size organisms, number = individuals

For un-equal size organisms, number = weight/mass

Density relates to the exploitation on living conditions of the population

Density influences on the spread of organisms’ parasites and the mating
capacity of the organisms in a population
Density also reveals the function of the population in a community.

18
4.3.4. Population density

Density identification
For animals
Observation, count the number of living organisms (in an area, transect…); square of the area
strongly depends only the studied organisms (size, behavior…); counting techiques

For plants
Depends on the natural conditions
free region, no high trees, count directly or photo from airplane
dense and complicated regions: square sample or transect

19
4.3.5. Birth rate of population

Birth rate reflects how much/ fast a population grows/develops

Birth rate = number of off-spring or eggs per clutch (clutch size)

Birth rate depends on/ regulated by the environmental conditions

Birth rate of population depends on clutch size (every year), clutch

number within life span, maturity age, gender/sex ratio…

Birth rate of a population could be calculated as below:

p.j Where:
p: period between 2 clutchs

r.x j: maturity age

r: number of eggs per clutch
x: number of clutches in its life span
20
4.3.5. Birth rate of population

Factors impact on the birth rate of population

Living conditions
Un-favorable environmental conditions, for a long time, could stimulate birth rate of
some species.
e.g: some temperate birds have more clutches than similar tropical species.
Living conditions strongly influence on birth rate. Food shortage or polluted
environment causes reduction on birth rate

Density
Density interferes on birth rate.
e.g.: African elephants usually mature at the age of 11 – 12 year olds and have birth every 4 years, but they delay
their maturation to 18 years old and have birth every 7 year when the density is high.

21
4.3.6. Mortality rate & spread of population

Mortality rate = dead (organism) number over total density

Mortality rate relates to the mean life span of organisms
Life span regulates by environmental conditions such as climate, and food, disease,
enemy and competition.
Different ages of organisms would have different mortality rate

The spread of a population is an very important factor for its existence.

The spread capacity is depended on transportation, movement and ability of the
population to over come the natural barriers.
Seasonal or daily migration makes and trains the population the capacity to use and
exploit essential conditions for its living.
e.g. annually, 1% of the rabbit (Lepus timidus) population migrates to another place; only 1/3 of the offspring of the bird
(Parus major) stays in their homeland

22
4.4. Alterations of organism densities in a population
4.4.1. Cycle alterations
- Seasonally
- Several/ many annually

4.4.2. Non-cycle alterations

- Disasters
- Introduction of new organisms/ species
- Parasitism
Applied population ecology

pollution/ eutrophication of water bodies;

rich soil lost;
supply water degradation;
saline intrusion;
desertification

Comments & questions wild life reduction

23