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7: Population Ecology

  • Page ID
    103343

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    baskets of sardines in a fishing port
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Image: Tons of Sarnies on the wharf in Rameswar fishing port. (public domain; Rudolph Futado)

    It may seem like sardines are, well, packed like sardines in the ocean—the tiny fish travel in schools of millions. But they and other small forage fish like herring and anchovies aren't immune to the effects of commercial fishing. A new study looks at seven species over 25 years and finds that overfishing exacerbates natural boom-and-bust cycles of the fish, which are not only a food source for humans but for countless larger marine animals.

    Learning Objectives
    • Define population.
    • Explain patters between population density and organism size.
    • Explain what restricts populations to certain distributions.
    • List and provide an example of the various dispersion patterns seen in nature.
    • Diagram exponential population growth and logistic population growth explain the circumstances under which each type of growth is expected.
    • Describe how density-independent and density-dependent factors regulate populations around their carrying capacity.
    • Describe patterns in human population growth.

    • 7.1: Characteristics of Popualtions
      Ecologists define a population as a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting an area delimited by natural or human-imposed boundaries. Population studies hold the key to solving practical problems such as saving endangered species, controlling pest populations, and managing fish and game populations. All populations share a number of characteristics including size, density, distribution, and dispersion.
    • 7.2: Population Growth and Regulation
      Population ecologists make use of a variety of methods to model population dynamics. An accurate model should be able to describe the changes occurring in a population and predict future changes.
    • 7.3: The Human Population

    Reference:

    Fishing amplifies forage fish population collapses. Essington, T., Moriarty, P., Froehlich, H. Stawitz, C. 2014, The Nature Conservancy, Seattle WA


    This page titled 7: Population Ecology is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Kappus (Open Educational Resource Initiative at Evergreen Valley College) .

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