Population Ecology

Learning Outcomes
Candidates should know:

1. the definition of individual, population, community and ecosystem.

2. that the size of a population is affected by immigration, emigration, mortality and births. Population size fluctuates seasonally and
annually, depending on resource availability.
3. the effects of limiting factors on population growth i.e. density dependant/independent factors and environmental resistance; the concept
of carrying capacity and its implication for a species
4. sampling methods:
a. Mark-recapture – method, precautions, calculation of population size
b. Quadrats – method, precautions, calculation of population size
c. Census – method, limitations
5. the importance of random sampling.
6. the definition of predator-prey relationships.
a. Study TWO examples of predator-prey relationships from the South African context to show how these operate as a mechanism for
regulating populations, e.g. lion – zebra; aphid – ladybird; shark – fish.
7. the impact of food webs and social organisation on populations
8. that species compete with each other for resources, e.g. light, space, water, shelter, food, and that this
results in specialisation for particular modes of life.
a. Interspecific and intraspecific competition for food, space, shelter, water, access to mates.
b. Survival is determined by successful access to resources.
c. Ecological niche defines resources and conditions necessary for survival of each species.
9. ways of reducing competition:
a. ONE strategy among plants, e.g. resource partitioning as in a forest ecosystem
b. ONE strategy among animals, e.g. coexisting shorebirds; coexisting large herbivores in African savanna;
coexisting predators, e.g. lions and leopards
10. the concept of ecological succession: the sequence of organisms that occupy a new habitat (primary
succession) or a disturbed habitat (secondary succession). Pioneers are replaced by a succession of
species; numerous possible end points, depending on environmental fluctuations; variety and number of
species determined by constraints of succession.
11. that social organization enhances survival:
a. benefits of herds or flocks as a predator avoidance strategy as in zebra
b. packs as a successful hunting strategy as in wild dogs
c. animals with a dominant breeding pair as in wild dogs
d. division of tasks among castes as in termites
12. the application of population dynamics to human populations.
a. Reasons for exponential human population growth.
b. Forecasts of human population growth in South Africa over the next twenty years

Possible Essay Questions

Debate decision to intervene and control community structure, e.g. culling of elephants.
Environmental impact assessments: Role of population studies in these assessments, e.g. indicator species
Discuss these concepts in terms of populations (including human) and the consequences for
ecosystems/the environment.
Debate human influences on succession, e.g. fire
 Human demands versus conservation of natural environment: Tensions and issues for debate Choose at
least ONE current debate, e.g. human requirements for land versus conservation of the natural
environment; the hunting industry; sustainable harvesting of natural resources; creation and management
of game reserves.
Reflect on the aesthetic value placed on South Africa's biodiversity by South Africans.
Implications of further human population growth for the natural environment:
Ecological footprint of people in 'developed world' vs people in 'developing world'.

Practice
QUESTION

Study the diagram below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Name the overall process occurring in the diagram above. (1)

2. Give the letter that represents:

(a) transcription (1)

(b) a polypeptide chain (1)

(c) codon–anticodon linkage (1)

3. Using the letters A–E in the diagram above, place the letters in the correct sequence from start to finish. (2)

4. If a particular DNA nucleotide base coding sequence was AGC-CTA-ATG, write the sequence on the
corresponding mRNA molecule. (There is no need to draw the nucleotides. Just list the bases in the correct
sequence.) (3)

QUESTION
Haemoglobin molecules are made during the process of protein synthesis. The genetic code for making
haemoglobin is stored in the DNA of cells.

1. State TWO differences in structure between DNA and RNA. (2)

2. Name the process in a cell which results in the formation of mRNA. (1)

3. Name the location in the cell where mRNA would be made. (1)

4.

(a) The following sequence of nitrogen bases is part of the DNA template that makes part of the
haemoglobin molecule.

ACA CCT GAG

Use the above template strand of DNA to write the corresponding mRNA nucleotide sequence. (3)

(b) Use the mRNA codon table below to write down the amino acids coded for by the mRNA in the correct
order.

5. Draw a flow diagram to represent the steps in the synthesis of a protein (such as the haemoglobin molecule)
in the cytoplasm of the cell. (6)

6. Haemoglobin is a single chain of 147 amino acids. Calculate the number of nucleotides that would code for
this protein molecule. Show all working. (2)

QUESTION

Read the information on the establishment of a game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal and then answer the questions
that follow.
Colchester Zoo is an innovative and world-renowned zoo in England. It focuses on conservation of endangered
species and captive breeding programmes. In 2005 it decided to set up its own conservation project and chose
South Africa to create a private nature reserve. Creating the UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve An area of
farmland three hours north of Durban was deemed a suitable location to set up the UmPhafa Private Nature
Reserve.

This 5,000 hectare area comprised of three farms previously farmed for cattle, with a wide range of habitats
from acacia, savannah and bushveld to mountainous terrain. The reserve is situated along the banks of the
Tugela River. Owing to previous agricultural practices, many of the natural inhabiting species had been lost and
much of the land had been eroded because of overgrazing.

Historically this part of KwaZulu-Natal has been an important agricultural area. There are many farms that are
under cultivation with crops such as maize and soya. Many types of livestock are farmed here, e.g. chickens,
pigs, beef and dairy farms, which flourish in this part of South Africa. The aim of Colchester Zoo management
was to rehabilitate UmPhafa and re-establish the region's previous natural habitat. UmPhafa is a private nature
reserve and is not open to tourists. It serves mainly as a conservation and research facility. Releasing Impala
onto UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve

Fencing and animal release

The first step in the management of the reserve was to remove all of the old cattle fencing and equipment and
then to start the immense task of fencing the entire reserve. Once the fence around the farm was electrified, an
animal release programme started. Many of the released species are increasing naturally, but in order to ensure
adequate habitat management, the numbers of grazers will need to be increased. By introducing more
individuals, it will prevent over-domination of certain grass species and promote floral diversity. These released
species will also eventually serve as a prey base for larger predators.

Mammal species

Some mammal populations remained on UmPhafa and have thrived since the reserve was established. However,
since 2006, many more species have been reintroduced. The reserve is now home to a wide range of fauna,
including White Rhino and giraffe. Many buck species have also been brought in, such as kudu, Impala, reedbuck,
zebra, Blesbok, Red Hartebeest, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, and nyala. Warthog, aardvark and porcupine have
also been brought in. Small- to medium-sized carnivores, such as Black-backed Jackal, caracal, serval, genet,
and several species of mongoose are also common and recently the staff have been noticing more and more
signs of leopard.

Breeding success

Since release, numerous species have bred on the reserve, including all of the antelope species. In addition, nine
giraffe and two white rhino calves have been born. Eventually these species will reach carrying capacity on the
farm. Signs of leopard are increasing, due to an increase in prey items, but the eventual aim is to release other
carnivorous species, such as cheetah, onto the reserve to ensure prey populations are managed sustainably.

Nine giraffe have been born on the reserve since they were reintroduced

Goals of UmPhafa

To date, all funding for UmPhafa has been provided by Colchester Zoo and donations from its visitors. The goal,
however, is that UmPhafa becomes self-sufficient. Another priority for UmPhafa is to work with the local
community. At present, thirteen members of the local community are employed in positions ranging from game
guards to fencing staff. All staff are valued and their skills enhanced. To date, the game guards have been put on
game ranger and wildlife management courses to increase their knowledge. Coupled with employment, UmPhafa
staff has also been working with local schools. An education programme has commenced at schools to
incorporate wildlife species into their curriculum. Fundraising has also taken place for these schools, with
computers purchased for one school and a new kitchen erected at the other; purchased with funds generated
by two schools in England. The eventual aim is to raise sufficient funds to construct classroom facilities on
UmPhafa so that the children can visit the reserve for environmental lessons. Coupled with the educational
programme and recent meetings concerning a recycling centre for the local community on site, UmPhafa is well
on its way to becoming a creditable local conservation project.

1. Give the correct biological terms for the following:

(a) competition between the jackal and the caracal for rodents.

(b) rhino and giraffe feeding on different vegetation in the same area. (1)
 (c) natural regrowth of vegetation on overgrazed land. (1)

1.2

(a) Can the UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve be regarded as an open or a closed ecosystem? Explain your
answer. (2)

(b) Study the diagram below of the population parameters.

(i) Which population parameter is represented by the release of impala into the reserve? (1)

(ii) Draw a simple sketch of a graph that will show the shape of the growth curve of the Impala
population from introduction until equilibrium is reached. Provide your graph with a suitable heading.
(3)

3. To ensure adequate habitat management, the population size of all plants and animals will need to be
monitored. The giraffe have already had nine calves born in the few years after they were introduced into
the reserve.

(a) What would the rangers observe when the giraffe population exceeds the carrying capacity of the
reserve? (2)

(b)Describe ONE option available to the managers of the reserve to return the giraffe numbers back to
carrying capacity if it is exceeded. (2)

(c) Suggest how the game rangers would count the giraffe in the reserve and explain why the method
you have chosen is a suitable method. (2)

4. Explain ONE way in which the predators on the UmPhafa game reserve could avoid competing for the
same food resource.

5. Many believe South Africa does not need more game reserves and would argue that UmPhafa should not
have been established. Do you agree with this opinion? Use your own knowledge and information from the
text to substantiate your opinion. (4)

6. The graph below shows a possible relationship between the biomass of the leopard, the Impala and the
grass in a game reserve such as UmPhafa.
 (a) What type of relationship exists between the leopard and the Impala? (1)

(b)

(i) Give a reason and explain why it is useful to include the biomass of the grass on the graph. (2)

(ii) Explain a possible reason from the graph for the drop in the biomass of grass from week 10 to
week 14. (2)

(c) Suggest why the units of the y-axis are recorded as the biomass of the organisms and not as the
numbers of the individual organisms. (2)

(d) The average mass of a fully grown leopard is about 45 kilograms. Using information from the graph,
calculate the largest number of leopard that existed in one week on the game reserve. Show all working.
(2) [30]

QUESTION

Read the information in the text box below. Use the information provided and your own knowledge to answer
the questions that follow.

A Grade 12 student conducted an investigation on the population of an invasive plant species, plant X, in the
green belt outside her school. A green belt is an area of open land in or around a city, on which building is
restricted. The following details relate to her investigation: • She used the quadrat sampling method

Total area of green belt: 600 m2

Size of each quadrat: 8 m2

A diagrammatic representation of the student's investigation

1. What is meant by the term population? (2)

2.

(a) How many quadrat samples did the student use in her investigation? (1)

(b) What is the average number of plant X in the quadrats that were sampled? Choose the correct letter
from the options listed below. (1)

A. 12

B. 4

C. 3

(c) Use the method for quadrat sampling to calculate the population of plant X in the green belt. Show all
working. (3)

3. The student states that she placed the quadrats randomly in the green belt.

(a) Suggest a method that the student could have used to ensure simple random sampling took place. (2)

(b) Why is random sampling important? (1)

(c) By looking at the actual distribution of plant X in Figure 2.1, evaluate the accuracy of the quadrat
method in estimating population size in this student's investigation. (3)

4. Why is the mark-recapture method not suitable to estimate the population of plant X? (2)

5. Suggest how the population of plant species X will impact the indigenous plants in the green belt. (2)

Study the population pyramids below

6. Suggest ONE reason why it is important that the government of a country obtains the information
represented in age–sex population pyramids? (1)

7. By analysing these graphs, can it be determined which country has the greatest number of people? Explain
your answer. (2)

8. Which country, A or B, has the fastest growth rate? Explain your answer using information from the images. (4)

9. Describe ONE population parameter and how it could change the shape of the graph of country A to a stable
population. (2)

Biologists conducted a study on ecological succession on abandoned farmlands over a period of 60 years. The
biologists collected data on hardwood trees and small annual plants. Hardwood trees are large, well-established
trees, and small annual plants are plants that produce seeds and then die within one growing season. The data
they collected is shown in the graph below. Use the graph and your own knowledge to answer the questions that
follow
10. Explain what is meant by ecological succession. (3)

11. Which plants, hardwood trees or small annual plants, are the climax species? Give evidence from the graph
to support your answer. (2)

12. List any three characteristics that are typical of pioneer plants that allow them to colonise an area. (3)

13. How long in the process of succession on the abandoned farmlands did it take for hardwood trees and small
annual plants to have an equal percentage of cover? (2)

14. Using an example that you have studied, name and explain how two different species of animals that live in
the same habitat are able to co-exist.