Chapter 9: Population Ecology

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Define and explain key population ecology concepts, including population size, density, distribution, growth, survivorship curves, and reproductive strategies (r- and K-selection).
• Compare and contrast exponential and logistic population growth models, and describe how carrying capacity and limiting factors influence population dynamics.
• Differentiate between density-dependent and density-independent limiting factors and analyze how they regulate population size in various environmental contexts.
• Evaluate the ecological principles used in conservation efforts, such as the protection and recovery of endangered species and the sustainable management of natural resources like fisheries and forests.
• Analyze the impact of invasive species on ecosystems, and explain how population ecology informs the development of control strategies, including biological control methods.
• Interpret human population trends and their ecological implications, including age structure, ecological footprints, and the concept of ecological overshoot and carrying capacity.