Ecology of PopulationsEcology of Populations
What is Ecology?What is Ecology?“Ecology”
the study of the interactions of
organisms w/ its environment.
• Populations grow when Populations grow when birth rate exceeds rate of birth rate exceeds rate of mortalitymortality
•DEATHDEATH
Population GrowthPopulation Growth
Age DistributionAge Distribution
Horizontal axis = Number of individualsHorizontal axis = Number of individuals
Age-Structure Diagram shows Age-Structure Diagram shows growth patterns of populations growth patterns of populations
grouped into categoriesgrouped into categories
Human Age DistributionHuman Age Distribution
Developed countriesDeveloped countries Less-developed Less-developed countriescountries
Humans are part of the Earth's Humans are part of the Earth's
ecosystem. Human activities ecosystem. Human activities
can either deliberately or can either deliberately or
inadvertently inadvertently
alter the balance alter the balance
of an ecosystem. of an ecosystem.
What do you Think???What do you Think???
How do human How do human activities affect the activities affect the
environment?environment?
With more info…With more info…
Will you change your Will you change your perspective or will perspective or will you feel the same you feel the same
way?way?
Human impacts on the EnvironmentHuman impacts on the Environment Global warmingGlobal warming
Use of machinery by Use of machinery by humans seems to be humans seems to be increasing COincreasing CO22 levels in levels in
the air. COthe air. CO22 prevents prevents heat from escaping, heat from escaping, causes slight world wide causes slight world wide temperature increasestemperature increases
Rising water temperatures causes coral bleaching
Human impacts on the environmentHuman impacts on the environment
DeforestationDeforestation• Caused by demand for wood products, Caused by demand for wood products,
need for space, farmland, housing, need for space, farmland, housing,
roads roads
• Deforestation causes Deforestation causes
Habitat fragmentationHabitat fragmentation
•Animals and plants are forced into Animals and plants are forced into confined areasconfined areas
Habitat FragmentationHabitat Fragmentation
Habitat FragmentationHabitat Fragmentation
Human impacts on the EnvironmentHuman impacts on the Environment Ozone depletionOzone depletion
• Caused by aerosol chemicals called Caused by aerosol chemicals called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• CFC’sCFC’s– Escape into atmosphere, reacts breaking down Escape into atmosphere, reacts breaking down
the ozone (Othe ozone (O33, a protective atmospheric layer), a protective atmospheric layer)
– UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and cause UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and cause harm to many organism. harm to many organism.
““HOLE” HOLE” in the in the ozone ozone (O3)(O3)
Human impacts on the EnvironmentHuman impacts on the Environment Fishing activitiesFishing activities• Demand for fish and shellfishDemand for fish and shellfish
• Commercial Commercial Fishing be harmful to Fishing be harmful to environment in many waysenvironment in many ways
Human impacts on the environmentHuman impacts on the environmentInvasive species (EXOTIC SPECIES)Invasive species (EXOTIC SPECIES)
•introduced by people accidentally or introduced by people accidentally or intentionallyintentionally
• Can cause problems if no natural enemies are Can cause problems if no natural enemies are presentpresent
•Cane toad was introduced to Australia to control cane beetles, pest insects that destroy sugar cane crops
Human impacts on the EnvironmentHuman impacts on the EnvironmentExotic pet tradeExotic pet trade
• Capture and sell wild animals from Capture and sell wild animals from
exotic locationsexotic locations
• Wealthy buyers and collectors desire Wealthy buyers and collectors desire
obscure animals obscure animals
• Animals removed from their habitat Animals removed from their habitat
causes an imbalance in the ecosystemcauses an imbalance in the ecosystem
Importance of the EnvironmentImportance of the EnvironmentBiodiversityBiodiversity = Many = Many different types of different types of organismsorganisms
• Organisms depend Organisms depend upon one another upon one another
• Interfering with one Interfering with one Organism can have a Organism can have a Ripple effect to many Ripple effect to many w/in the habitatw/in the habitat
Importance of the environmentImportance of the environmentNatural resources:Natural resources:
Non-renewable Non-renewable includes fossil fuels includes fossil fuels (petroleum, coal)(petroleum, coal)• Renewable includes Renewable includes animals, plants, water, animals, plants, water, wind, etc.wind, etc.– even renewable even renewable
resources can run out resources can run out
Importance of the Importance of the EnvironmentEnvironmentNatural resourcesNatural resources
Renewable energy sources include wind Renewable energy sources include wind power, geothermal energy, ocean currents power, geothermal energy, ocean currents
Pollution:Pollution:• AgriculturalAgricultural–DDTDDT–FertilizersFertilizers–Animal wastes (nitrogen)Animal wastes (nitrogen)
• HomesHomes– Strong cleaning agentsStrong cleaning agents
• IndustryIndustry–Toxic gases and wastesToxic gases and wastes–Acid rainAcid rain
Questions?Questions?
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