Lesson 1: Population Basics

Hibiscusville is an island in the Pacific Ocean. The island is 5,000 square kilometers in size. Currently, 200,000 people live there. Last year, 10,000 children were born and 1,000 people immigrated. 8,000 people died and 500 emigrated. It is believed that the island could support up to 250 people per square kilometer. What is the current growth rate?

(10,000 + 1,000) - (8,000 + 500) / 200,000 = 0.0125 or 1.25

Hibiscusville is an island in the Pacific Ocean. The island is 5,000 square kilometers in size. Currently, 200,000 people live there. Last year, 10,000 children were born and 1,000 people immigrated. 8,000 people died and 500 emigrated. It is believed that the island could support up to 250 people per square kilometer. What is the carrying capacity of the island?

(250 people) (5,000sq km) / sq km = 1,250,000

What is the range for the carrying capacity of human populations?

2 billion to 40 billion.

Hibiscusville is an island in the Pacific Ocean. The island is 5,000 square kilometers in size. Currently, 200,000 people live there. Last year, 10,000 children were born and 1,000 people immigrated. 8,000 people died and 500 emigrated. It is believed that the island could support up to 250 people per square kilometer. What is the current population density?

200,000 people/5,000 sq km = 40 people/sq km.

The carrying capacity for gerbils is about _____.

65

What is population?

All the members of one species living together in the same place at the same time.

Select the three terms used to describe populations.

Dispersion. Density. Size.

Select the three different types of population dispersion.

Even. Random. Clumped.

Define the term exponential growth.

For every generation, the population grows many times greater than the one before it.

Why is the range for the carrying capacity of human populations so large?

It depends on how people choose to live. If every person on earth lived like the average American, the earth could only support 2 billion people. If everyone lived more like those in the developing countries, then we could possibly reach 40 billion on minimal subsistence.

In which month did the gerbils experience exponential growth?

June

Hibiscusville is an island in the Pacific Ocean. The island is 5,000 square kilometers in size. Currently, 200,000 people live there. Last year, 10,000 children were born and 1,000 people immigrated. 8,000 people died and 500 emigrated. It is believed that the island could support up to 250 people per square kilometer. What are some potential limiting resources for the island?

Light. Food. Disease. Temperature. Water. Space. Nutrients.

Define the term limiting resources.

Natural resources that limit population growth.

What is the formula for growth rate?

Population change/total population.

Define the three terms used to describe populations.

Size: the number of individuals. Density: the number of individuals per area. Dispersion: the arrangement of individuals within a certain amount of space.

Why did the reindeer population crash?

Starvation. Depleted food source.

Define the term growth rate.

The change in population numbers over time.

Define the term carrying capacity.

The maximum number of a species an ecosystem can support indefinitely.

Define the term reproductive potential.

The maximum number of offspring an individual of the population can produce.

Why did the reindeer population on St. Matthew's island explode?

The reindeer had plenty of food and no natural predators.

Use the graph to answer the question.

This graph shows a(n) S curve, which depicts Exponential growth, followed by Fluctuations around carrying capacity.