Natalia Cocom

21,2016
Population Distribution

July

How does population distribution affect the environment?

Why?
Alaska contains over 127 million acres of untouched forest land. It is the largest
state in the United States, yet with a population of nearly 700,000 people it has
the same total population as Austin, Texas. New Jersey is one of the smallest
states and home to a population of nearly 9 million, but almost 1.8 million of its
4.4 million total land acres are untouched natural woodland. What are the
reasons for the ways populations organize themselves, and what effect does this
organization have on the environment?

Model 1 Population Density and Distribution

1. Refer to Model 1.
a. What do the dots in the diagrams represent? Individual organisms
b. What do the boxes in the diagrams represent? The size or area of the habitat in
kilometers
Population Distribution

2. Calculate the area of a single habitat. A=s; 2km x 2km= 4km

3. Consider the arrangements of the dots in Model 1.
a. Describe the arrangements of the dots in habitat 3. They are evenly spaced out
b. Describe the arrangement of the dots in habitat 4. They are in clusters or
grouped together
4. Fill in the table below by counting the number of individuals in each habitat in
Model 1 and then calculate the area available per individual.
Habitat
No.

Area (km2)

No. of
Individuals

No. of Individuals/Unit area

(Density)

31

7.75/km

1/ km

12

3/km

15

3.75/km

5
4
7
5. Refer to the completed table above.

1.75/km

a. Which habitat shows a high population density? Habitat 1

b. Which habitat shows the lowest population density? Habitat 2
6. Draw a vertical line through the middle of each of the boxes in model 1. Label
the left side a and the right side b on each box. Complete the table below
for each half of each habitat.
Habitat
No.
1
2
3
4

Area (km2)

No. of
Individuals

No. of Individuals/Unit area

(Density)

16

8/ km

15

7.5/ km

1.5/ km

0.5/ km

3/ km

3/ km

11

5.5/ km

2/ km

Population Distribution

2.5/ km

b
2
1/ km
7. For which of the habitats in Model 1 is population density very similar between
sides a and b?
Habitat 1 and Habitat 3
8. For which of the habitats in Model 1 is the population density quite different
between sides a and b?
Habitat 2, Habitat 4, Habitat 5

POGIL Activities for High School Biology

9. Label each of the diagrams on Model 1 using the terms clumped
(clustered), random, and uniform (even) to describe the population
distribution within the boxes.

Habitat 1 and 3: Uniform; Habitat 2 and 5: random; Habitat 4: clustered

10. Compare and contrast the terms population density and population
distribution.
Population density is the number of individuals per unit area while
population distribution is the
arrangement of individuals within an area.

11. Assuming the population size stays constant, propose at least two factors that
might cause a population to shift from a low density habitat to a high density
habitat?
Loss of food source and a change in the environment
12. Animals such as lions or wolves often show clumped distribution. Give a reason
why this would be advantageous for these animals.
Lions and wolves live in packs for protection and are very territorial so
their territories will not overlap.
Population Distribution

13. Other than social reasons, list any other factors that may lead to clumped
distribution patterns in populations.
Protection from predators, availability of a water resource, has young
offsprings that need to be taken care of.

14. For each of the organisms listed below state the type of population
distribution and population density of their habitat. Give a reason for
each answer.
Organism

Distribut
ion

Density

Reason

Tigers

Uniform

low

Territorial and hunts alone

Bison

clumped

high

Herding animals

Ants

Clumped

high

Lives in organized colonies

Dandelion
s

Random

high

Seeds dispersed by wind so

individuals can grow at random

Apple
trees in an
orchard

uniform

high

Evenly spaced to avoid competition

Model 2 Factors Affecting Density

Factor
Food supply

Density
Dependent
X

Density
Independent

Rainfall

Flood

Parasites

Acidity
Disease
Population Distribution

X
X
4

Drought

Competition

Predation

15. Refer to Model 2.

a. Which factors are dependent on the population density?
Food supply, parasitism, disease, competition, andpredation.
b. Describe how the food supply would be affected by the population density.
Dense population are all competingfor the same food source within a given area. c.
c. Describe how the levels or spread of disease would be affected by population density.
The more crowded the population, the higher the chance that disease will spread.
16. What do all the density-independent factors have in common?
They are all environmental factors such as rainfall.
17. In your own words, define density dependent and density independent by completing

the sentences below.

Density-dependent factors are directly affected by
the
density of individuals in a given area.
Density-independent factors are unaffected by the
number of individuals in a given area.
18. Density-independent factors and density-dependent factors may be interrelated. For

example, a lack of rainfall that causes a drought will impact the food supply in a
habitat. Propose another pairing of a density-independent factor and densitydependent factor that might occur.
Heavy rainfall or flooding can cause an increase in parasitic
species. Drought can cause an
increase in competition for food sources among species.

Population Distribution

STOP

POGILIM

Extension Questions
Read This!
Allelopathy (allelon "of each other" and pathos to suffer") is the chemical inhibition of one species by
another. This phenomena is frequently found in plants where one species of plant releases a chemical into the
environment that inhibits the growth of another species of plant. An example is the Creosote bush, which
releases terpenes into the surrounding soil to inhibit the growth of other plants.
19. Describe what might be observed in a habitat that would indicate a plant species is
allelopathic?
A single species; clear zone; weak or sickly plants surrounding it.
20. Considering what you know about population distribution, what type of distribution is likely
to arise as a result of a]lelopathy? Justify your answer using complete sentences.
Uniform or clumped distribution ofa single species would result since the growth of the other
species would be inhibited.
21. What would be some advantages of allelopathy to a plant?
No competition from other species; allows the plant to maximize the resources in the
environment.
22. What would be some disadvantages to the ecosystem where allelopathic plants grow?
Lack of competition leads to the growth ofa single species, which could upset the balance of
other life forms in the area. The interactions ofliving things in the ecosystem define the
overall environment.
23. Is it likely that a species that exhibits a]lelopathy would evolve over time? Explain your
answer using what you know about the mechanisms of evolution.
Evolution arisesfrom competition for scarce resources. If the competition between species is
removed due to allelopathy then new species may not arise through evolution.
24. The sorghum plant releases the allelotoxin sorgolene that disrupts mitochondrial functions and
inhibits photosynthesis. Brainstorm with your group some positive applications for this
allelotoxin.

Weed suppressant.
Population Distribution

Population Distribution