Chapter 36:
Population Ecology
Chapter Objectives
Opening Essay
Explain how the introduction of Nile perch into Lake Victoria changed the ecology of the
lake and surrounding region.
Population Structure and Dynamics
36.1
36.2
36.3
36.4
36.5
36.6
36.7
36.8
Define a population. Describe the general type of work performed by population ecologists.
Define population density and describe different types of dispersion patterns.
Explain how life tables are used to track mortality and survivorship in populations. Compare Type I, Type II, and Type III survivorship curves.
Describe and compare the exponential and logistic population growth models, illustrating
both with examples. Explain the concept of carrying capacity.
Describe the factors that regulate growth in natural populations.
Define boom-and-bust cycles, explain why they occur, and provide examples.
Explain how life-history traits vary with environmental conditions and with population
density. Compare r-selection and K-selection and indicate examples of each.
Describe the major challenges inherent in managing populations.
The Human Population
36.9
36.10
36.11
Explain how the structure of the world’s human population has changed and continues to
change. Describe the key factors that affect human population growth.
Explain how the age structure of a population can be used to predict changes inpopulation
size and social conditions.
Explain the concept of an ecological footprint. Describe the uneven use of natural
resources in the world.
Key Terms
age structure
carrying capacity
clumped
demographic transition
density-dependent
dispersion pattern
ecological footprint
exponential growth model
K-selection
life history
life table
limiting factors
logistic growth model
maximum sustained yield
per capita rate of increase
population
population density
population ecology
population momentum
random
r-selection
survivorship curve
sustainable resource management
uniform
Word Roots
demo- 5 people; -graphy 5 writing (demography: the study of human populations; demographic transition: the shift from zero population growth characterized by high birth and death rates to zero population growth characterized by low birth and death rates)
capit- 5 head (per capita rate of increase: the average contribution of each individual [literally, each
“head”] in a population to population growth)
Student Media
Population Structure and Dynamics
Activity: Techniques for Estimating Population Density and Size (36.2)
Activity: Investigating Survivorship Curves (36.3)
BLAST Animation: Population Dynamics (36.6)
The Human Population
Activity: Human Population Growth (36.9)
Activity: Analyzing Age-Structure Diagrams (36.9)
GraphIt!: Age Pyramids and Population Growth (36.9)