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Module 18: Abundance and distribution

Module 18-abundance and distribution

Start with this:

A crude example of this might be:

  • individual-you
  • population-HPA 
  • students community-HPA
  • ecosystem-education
  • biosphere-the world


or:

  • some rabbit individual
  • some of the rabbit's friends, 
  • a population of rabbits
  • rabbits and the things they eat and eat them-community
  • ecosystem-the plants that support both ends of this process
  • biosphere-the planet

We covered ecosystem energy and matter a few weeks ago, this chapter is about population ecology.

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Population dynamics

Notation: Population size is represented as N (note not "n"): population size within a defined area at a specific time (brings in migration).So, we could say the student population of HPA would be all students here this year, 2022-2023
Check out the diagrams on population distribution: random, uniform and clumped. Important vis a vis biodiversityStructures: age and gender (sex)



  • Density dependent factor: e.g. food or reproductive rate in rats (more rats, lower "fecundity" or birthrate)
  • Something that influences reproduction or survival...
  • Density independent factors: storms, disasters, fires (note density independent: one bambi or 100 bambi all perish in the same fire)
  • Limiting resource: usually food, but could include space, nutrients, etc.
  • Carrying capacity: K (note not "k"): how many individuals an environment can support

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