Chapter 11 - Population Dynamics Flashcards
Represent changes in population size due to birth, death, immigration, and emigration as a mathematical equation
N(t+1)=N(t)+B+I-D-E
Where:
N(t) is the initial population
B is the birth rate
I is the immigration Rate
D is the death Rate
and E is the emigration rate
In population dynamics, these are sets of populations linked by dispersal
Metapopulations
In population dynamics, these are sets of populations that face the threat of extinction
Small populations
4 major types of patterns of population growth
Exponential growth
Logistic growth
Population fluctuations
Regular population cycles
T/F The growth types are mutually exclusive
F, a single population can experience these 4 major types of growth at different times; the 4 are not mutually exclusive
Growth pattern where population increases (or decreases) by a constant proportion at each point in time
Exponential Growth
Means by which species successfully colonize new geographic regions on their own
Long distance or Jump Dispersal events
Growth pattern with relatively stable population size that changes little with respect to time; at equilibrium.
Logistic growth
In natural populations, indicates any population whose numbers initially increase then level off and fluctuate around a maximum population size or carrying capacity (K)
Logistic Growth
dN/dt = rN(1-(N/K))
where:
N is the population count
r is the instantaneous rate of change
K is the population size at which birth and death rates are equal
Most common pattern which may be erratic increase or decrease in abundance from overall mean, or deviations from population growth patterns (i.e. exponential, logistic)
Population Fluctuations
Alternating periods of high and low abundance after constant or nearly constant time intervals
May be due to internal factors (hormonal or behavioral changes in response to crowding) and external factors (weather, food supplies, predators)
Regular Population Cycles
The effect of population density is often delayed with?
Time
Ex. Built-in delay in the effect of food supply on birth rate; current number of individuals born influenced by population densities or other conditions present several time periods ago
How to calculate population under delated density dependence
dN/dT = rN [1-(N(t-tau)/K)]
Where:
Tau is time lag
Similar to logistic growth equation, instead of N, we use N(t-tau) which is the size of the population in the past not current
Using the geometric growth equation, why are small populations at risk of extinction
N(t+1) = λN(t)
If fluctuation very little → λ mostly greater than 1 in most years → population generally increase in size → little to no risk of extinction
If change in λ is large from year to year → population size fluctuates → Additional variation in λ slows population growth → increased extinction risk
In small populations, when genetic drift leads to loss of genetic variation, why is this harmful
1.) a small population cannot respond via natural selection optimally
2.) harmful alleles occur at higher frequencies leading to poor reproductive success,
3.) small populations have more occurrences of inbreeding -> increases frequency of homozygotes -> increases frequency of a harmful allele
