BIO120H1 Lecture 8: Textbook Chapter 8
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Notes on population ecology: population size (n)- number of individual organisms in a population. *very difficult to estimate population sizes in nature with precision. Animals that are mobile are hard to track down to a single location. Little animals like insects are frequently cryptic and elusive. Determining which organisms belong to a particular population and which do not: developed feature to oppose difficulties great reliance on mathematical models and theory. Allow to compute consequences of reasonable assumptions about population growth, even when lacking precise data. When directly studying population sizes, studies tend to be carried out on small islands or artificial conditions in labs. No uncertainty about limits of populations and easier to search. Exceptions when estimating population sizes in continuous habitats: insect pests in agriculture or forestry, where economics costs of population outbreaks provide compelling rationale for research, dwindling populations of endangered species. Legal responsibilities to devise management plans to stop extinction: analytical models vs. simulation models.
