Pre-IB Biology
November 19-20, 1998
Ecology Lesson Plan 4 - Population Biology
FCPS Benchmarks
Benchmark 1.15 (SOL-BIO1, BIO5, BIO7, and BIO9)
Students investigate and understand that organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems. The interrelationships and
interdependence of these organisms may generate ecosystems that are stable for hundreds or thousands of years.
Indicators
 1.15.1 Relate the concepts of individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems to each other.
 1.15.2 Illustrate the interactions within and among populations, including carrying capacities, limiting factors, and
growth curves.
 1.15.3 Cite several examples of predation, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism, and competition.
Benchmark 1.16 (SOL-BIO1, BIO5, BIO8, and BIO9)
Students investigate and understand that human beings live within the world's ecosystems. Increasingly, humans modify
ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption. Human destruction of habitats by direct
harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors may threaten global stability and could result in irreversible
damage to ecosystems.
Indicators
 1.16.1 Formulate ways of dealing with environmental problems such as air pollution and overpopulation.
Associated Laboratory Activities
Students should complete activities which enable them to:
 5a. Understand the effects of population growth in relation to the ecosystem.
 5b. Understand how energy passes from one trophic level to another as it moves through the ecosystem.
Virginia SOL Assessment Questions (this lesson only)
1. A prey population usually decreases as the predator population:
a. increases *
b. decreases
c. immigrates
d. stays the same
2. Limiting factors keep populations from:
a. declining
b. emigrating
c. getting too large *
d. getting too small
Pre-IB Biology
November 19-20, 1998
Agenda
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Return /Review B.H. Cowbird Worksheets
Hand in Food Chain/Food Web Lab
Introduction to Community Distribution
Homeostasis in Communities and Succession
Biomes - Aquatic and Terrestrial
Worksheet
Introduction to Population Biology
Objectives
 Explain how limiting factors and ranges of tolerance affect distribution of organisms;
 Sequence the stages of succession in different communities;
 Compare the euphotic and aphotic zones of ocean biomes;
 Identify the major limiting factors of terrestrial biomes; and
 Distingiush among terrestrial biomes
Pre-IB Biology
November 19-20, 1998
Population Biology
Review of terms learned earlier:
Population Limiting Factor - any environmental factor (abiotic or biotic) that restricts the
existence, numbers, reproduction or distribution of organisms.
Range of Tolerance - The limits of an organisms ability to tolerate changes it its
environment (too much or too little of an environmental factor.
Population Growth - change in population size over time.
Exponential Growth -
Carrying Capacity -
Types of Population Growth -
Environmental Limits -
Density-dependent factors
Density-independent factors
Pre-IB Biology
Interactions Among Organisms Affecting Population
Predation -
Competition -
Crowding and Stress -
November 19-20, 1998
Pre-IB Biology
Human Population Growth
Demographic Trends
Demography
Birth Rates
Death Rates
Age Structure
Mobility
Immigration
Emmigration
November 19-20, 1998
Pre-IB Biology
November 19-20, 1998
Homework: 
- Outline Chapter 5
- Make sure TI-83's are working correctly and batteries are
charged.