INTERACTION BETWEEN LIVING AND NON-LIVING THINGS

PROPERTIES OF POPULATION

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. describe the relationship between population and species (C8.A.1), and
2. describe how external factors (environmental, social) relate to population
dispersion and density (C8.B.1).

If you happened to watch the movie, ​Finding Nemo, ​you would probably be able to
recognize the organisms found in the picture below.

Figure 1.​ ​This photo​ is ​The clownfish hanging out with sea anemones​ by Michael Arvedlund, 2007
in Public Domain

Based on the picture, give an example of a species and a population.

The picture shows two different species, ​Amphiprion ocellaris​ (clownfish) and
Stichodactyla gigantea ​(sea anemone). It also illustrates two distinct populations: a
population of clownfish and a population of sea anemones.

​ ​Learning Guide 10.1 | ​page 1 of 7

As you continue to read this module, you will understand the relationship between species
and population, and the external factors that affect the dispersion and density of a
population.

Relationship between Species and Population

The term ​species​ has many different definitions, but we will define it simply as a unique
type of organisms or an individual organism that can interbreed with its own kind. It can be
a plant, an animal, a bacterium, a fungus, or any living organism.

It is important to note that the term “species” always ends with an “s” even if you are
referring to only one organism, a species. There is no such thing as a specie.

Figure 2. ​This photo​ is​ ​Different species of Darwin’s Finches from Galapagos Archipelago by John
Gould, 2012. In the public domain.

On the other hand, a ​population​ refers to a group of the same species that live in a
particular area at a particular time, which suggests that populations are geographically
based and time-bound. For example, the population of field mice in the Philippines is
different from the population of field mice in Indonesia.

​ ​Learning Guide 10.1 | ​page 2 of 7

Population Size, Population Density, and Population Dispersion
Population size ​refers to the number of organisms in a population. For example, a
population of 100 individual birds.

Population density​ (also known as ecological population density) is the amount or

number of individuals in a population per unit area or volume. For example, the number of
Cebu cinnamon (​Cinnamomum cebuense​) per square kilometer in the forest of Nug-as,
​ er milliliter in a test tube.
Alcoy, Cebu, or the number of ​Escherichia coli p

Population dispersion ​is the pattern of spacing among individuals within the population
boundary. Population boundary is the physical area that defines a population. In a
population, the individuals may live in different patterns in an area reflecting the species’
characteristics and the environment. The patterns of dispersion within a population
boundary are ​clumped, uniform, ​and ​random.
o Clumped ​is the most common pattern in which individuals are clustered in groups.
This reflects that their environment has a patchy distribution of resources.
o Uniform ​is the pattern in which individuals are evenly spaced over the area they
occupy. Organisms that exhibit uniform distribution have territoriality and intense
competition over the available resources.
o Random ​is the pattern in which individuals are in unpredictable spacing. This
reflects that the individuals within the population boundary do not strongly interact.

Figure 3. ​This photo​ Patterns of dispersion in populations by Boundless. Licensed under CC

BY-NC-SA 3.0.

How to measure population size and population density?

To recall, population size is the number of individuals in a population, while population
density is the number of individuals in a population per unit area or volume.

Scientists study and understand the size and density of a population with the use of the
most important methods: ​quadrat method​, and ​mark-recapture method​. These two
sampling methods can be used depending on the type of organisms. Using these
methods, scientists can model the change a population undergoes over time.

​ ​Learning Guide 10.1 | ​page 3 of 7

Quadrat method​ is widely used to study the population size and density of immobile
organisms, such as plants and immobile animals. A quadrat is a four-sided figure that
encloses a sample area within a habitat (Figure 4).

Figure 4. ​A scientist uses a quadrat to measure the size and density of plant population
by LibreTexts, 2020 (https://bio.libretexts.org/). Licensed by CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

In measuring population density using the quadrat method, one has to identify the
population size​ within the quadrat boundaries and the ​size (area) of the quadrat​ used.
Population density has the formula:

N
D= A

where
o D​ is the population density,
o N​ is the population size within the quadrat, and
o A​ is the size of the quadrat.

​ ​Learning Guide 10.1 | ​page 4 of 7

For example, you want to identify the population density of daffodils in the park, using your
2 m​2​ quadrat. Within the quadrat, there are 200 individual daffodils (population size). Using
the formula, the population density of daffodils is ​100/m​2 ​(100 individual daffodils per 1
m​2​)​.
200 daf f odils
D= 2 m2

D = 100 daf f odils/m2

Mark-recapture (capture-recapture) method ​is used to study the population size of

mobile organisms. This method involves taking a sample from the population, marking
those individuals in the sample with bands, tags, or other body markings; and releasing
them back into the population where they mix with the unmarked individuals. Later, a new
sample is taken from the same population, which now includes some marked individuals
(recaptures) and some unmarked individuals.

The ratio between marked and unmarked individuals allows scientists to calculate the
number of individuals in the population as an estimate of the total population size.

In mark-recapture method, population size can be determined using the formula:

Mn
N= m

where
o N ​- the population size to be estimated,
o M​ - the number of individuals in the population that are captured initially and tagged
​(first sample),
o n​ - the number of individuals in the second sample (recaptured), and
o m​ - the number of individuals in the second sample that were already marked.

For example, if 100 Philippine deer (​Rusa marianna​) are captured, marked, and released
back into the forest, and later 200 Philippine deer are captured with 50 of them already
tagged, then the estimated population size of Philippine deer is ​400​.

(100 deer)(200 deer)

N= 50 deer

N = 400 deer

​ ​Learning Guide 10.1 | ​page 5 of 7

GRADED FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

I. Read each item carefully and choose the best answer. 1 point each
1. Which of the following describes a population?
A. It is a group of one species living in an area.
B. It is a group of multiple species living in an area.
C. It refers to all living organisms living in an area.
D. It refers to all living and nonliving things in an area.

2. Which pattern of dispersion is described when organisms are spaced out equally?
A. uniform
B. random
C. clumped
D. none of these

3. Which dispersion pattern is a result of resources that are not evenly spread out in
an area?
A. uniform
B. random
C. clumped
D. none of these

II. Write TRUE if the statement is correct. If otherwise, change the underline word/s
to make the statement correct. 2 points each
4. Population size​ refers to the average number of individuals in a population per
unit of area or volume.

5. A species with a ​random​ dispersion pattern probably competes for a sparse

resource.

6. A species with a ​very large population​ is more likely to be at risk of extinction.

III. Solve for the population size and density using the methods that were
discussed. 2 points each
7. The side of a square quadrat is 1 m long and there are 200 individual dandelions
within the quadrat. Identify the population size and population density of
dandelions.

8. In the forest, 50 Cebu warty pigs (​Sus cebifrons cebifrons​) are captured, tagged,
and released back into the wild. Later, 50 Cebu warty pigs are captured and 25 of
them are already tagged. What is the estimated population size of Cebu warty
pigs?

​ ​Learning Guide 10.1 | ​page 6 of 7

 In Summary
o Species is a unique individual organism that can interbreed with its own kind.
o Population is a group of individuals of the same species that is geographically based.
o Population size is the number of individuals in a population.
o Population density is the number of individuals in a population per unit area or volume.
o Population dispersion is the pattern of spacing among individuals in a population.
o Quadrat method is widely used to study the population size and density of plants and
sessile animals.
o Mark-recapture method is used to study the population size of mobile organisms.

Biology LibreTexts (2020). Population Size and Density.

bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_Gene
ral_Biology_(Boundless)/45%3A_Population_and_Community_Ecology/45.1%3A_
Population_Demography/45.1B%3A_Population_Size_and_Density

CK-12: Biology Concepts (2020). Population Size, Density, and Distribution.

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A
_Introductory_Biology_(CK-12)/06%3A_Ecology/6.17%3A_Population_Size%2C_
Density%2C_and_Distribution

Edwards, W.J. & Edwards, C.T. (2011). Population Limiting Factors. ​Nature Education
Knowledge 3(​ 10):1.

Khan Academy (2020). Ecological levels: from individuals to ecosystems. Khan Academy.
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-ecology/hs-introducti
on-to-ecology/a/ecological-levels-from-individuals-to-ecosystems

Reece, J.B., Urry, L.A., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V. & Jackson, R.B.
(2011). ​Campbell Biology. ​Pearson

© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released
to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject.

​ ​Learning Guide 10.1 | ​page 7 of 7