BIO326 : Population

When grouped as a population, individuals exhibit collective properties, i.e., a life history which has resulted from natural selection, age structure, patterns of survivorship, density, and a distribution in space.

As the individuals of a population interact with each other and their environment, the separate events of birth and death contribute to population growth rates of fecundity and mortality allowing predictions of future population density. When environmental pressures change, these rates may be altered, leading to population explosions or extinctions.

In this section, we will examine the characteristics of populations, looking at how their life histories are adaptive, how populations can be described, and how to predict the future trends of a population.

• Population Characteristics
• Population Dynamics
• Life Histories and Evolution

After completing this module, you should be able to:

• Describe the characteristics of a population and use its attributes to summarize its current status
• Project future population density and other characteristics from its current status
• Calculate population growth, rates of increase, and doubling times
• Discuss the ways that environment influences and "regulates" populations
• Compare strategies in the use of resources which adapt the population to environmental pressures

To complete this module, you should:

• Read the indicated pages of the textbook, The Economy of Nature by Robert E. Ricklefs.
• Open and read the hyper-text lessons for each topic in the unit, including the links in the body of each lesson.
• Submit assignments by the dates indicated on their respective pages.