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Wildlife Population. Population Dynamics. Population. A single species group living within a defined geographic area Where does a population of organisms live? Where it is defined. What determines population size. Birth rate Death rate Emigration Immigration.
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Wildlife Population Population Dynamics
Population • A single species group living within a defined geographic area • Where does a population of organisms live? • Where it is defined
What determines population size • Birth rate • Death rate • Emigration • Immigration
Factors that affect populations • Carrying capacity - Number of individuals a habitat can support • Limiting factors – something that limits population growth
When carrying capacity is exceeded • Dramatic population crash • In extreme cases, extinction could occur • Starvation and disease • Limiting factors
Kaibab Incident • Kaibab Plateau, Arizona • Predators removed between 1907-1923
Limiting factors in an aquatic ecosytem • Salinity • Depth of sunlight penetration • Dissolved Oxygen • Availability of plant nutrients • Temperature
Density Dependent Factors • Dependent of population size • Food availability • Disease • Territory
Density Independent • Is not influenced by the size of the population • Weather events • Natural disasters
Migration • Permanent exit from a population • Immigration • Permanent removal from a population
Dispersal • Leaving a population and going to another location to “start a family”
What is equilibrium? • A temporary or permanent stability in an ecosystem • Is equilibrium or chaos more likely in a natural system?
Harvesting • Can we harvest animals in a sustainable way? • Maximum sustainable harvest • The highest rate at which a species can be taken for use by humans
Questions ????? • What role does hunting play in a population of game animals? • What type of limiting factor is hunting density dependent or density independent
Game -vs- Nongame • Game species are animals that are hunted • Nongame are the species that are not hunted • What do you think most management takes into consideration, game or nongame species? • Game