Biology (Mader), 10th Edition

Chapter 44: Population Ecology

Learning Outcomes

After studying this chapter, you should be able to accomplish the following outcomes.

Scope of Ecology

1. Explain what aspects of biology, the study of ecology, encompasses.

Demographics of Populations

2. Recognize how environmental conditions affect the density and distribution patterns of a population.
3. Know how to interpret survivorship curves and life tables.
4. Recognize how the proportion of individuals at varying reproductive stages determines a population's age distribution.

5. Describe exponential population growth and the circumstances that encourage it.
6. Characterize logistic growth and the carrying capacity of a population.

7. Contrast density-independent and density-dependent factors that affect population size.

8. Describe the two life history patterns of species.

9. Review the past and present growth of the human population.
10. Explain how human population growth places pressure on Earth's resources.