POPULATION STUDIES

A population is defined as the total number of organisms of the same species living together in a given
area at a particular time. In any ecosystem, the community is made up of many populations of different
species.

To study a habitat’s populations, the following are usually investigated.

The type of organisms in the habitat: This involves listing all the different types of populations found in
that particular habitat. This helps to determine the relationships that exist between the different
organisms in the habitat.

The dominant species: This refers to the species of organisms in a community which exert a great
influence on the habitat and on the other populations. Dominance may be expressed in terms of their
number, size, the portion of space occupied and contribution to the energy flow of the habitat.

The characteristics of the population: This refers to;

(a) Population size: The total number of individuals of the same species in the habitat (the total
numbers of individuals in a population). A large population stands a better chance of surviving
unfavourable conditions such as fires, diseases, harsh climate changes, while a small population can be
easily wiped out. A large population also has the advantage of increasing its vigour through breeding
which invariably increases its ability to withstand adverse conditions.

(b) Population density: This is defined as the number of individual organisms per unit area or volume of
the habitat.

Mathematically represented as;

Population density= Total population or Population / Size (Area) of habitat

Populations can be of the same size, but they may have different densities.

When we consider the number of individuals per area.

Example: If an area of land of 100m² has an elephant grass population of 1000 plants, the density of
elephant grasses will be;

Total number of individuals /Total area

=1000/100m2

Elephant grasses=10∅∅/1∅∅m2
Population density of elephant grasses=10 elephant grasses/m2

Population density can be used to estimate the total number of individuals of a population i.e.
population size.

(c) Population frequency: This refers to how often the species occurs at different sites in its habitat. It is
recorded as the number of times the organism is sited (seen).

(d) Population growth rate: This refers to the total and final effect of birthrate and death rate of
organisms in the habitat. There is population increase if birth rate exceeds death rate. There is
population decrease if the death rate is more than birth rate.

(e) Percentage cover: This is the area of ground or space covered (or occupied) by a given species in its
habitat. It is expressed in percentage.

(f) Distribution: This refers to the way in which individuals of a particular population are arranged in a
given habitat. The individuals may live in clumps; they may be evenly spaced or randomly spaced.

Example: If the western half of the habitat contained ¾ of the elephant grasses, then,

Density =3/4×1000=75Ø/5Ø=15 grasses/m^2

Methods of Studying Populations:

The following are methods of population studies:

1. Direct Counting: This involves direct counting per head of organisms in a habitat. This is mostly
applicable to organisms that are big enough and has limited movement.

2. Quadrat Sampling: A quadrat is made of a square or rectangular piece of wire, plastic, wood or
metal frame with predetermined area. E.g. the area of a quadrat may be 25cm². A quadrat is
used to sample the number of plant species in a habitat. It is not suitable for sampling animals
because they move around so much. A quadrat is used by throwing it over the shoulder at
random several times and on each landing, the area covered/enclosed by it is observed. The
type of plant species and their number within the quadrat are recorded. From the results, the
average number of plant per m² is calculated. If the area of the habitat is known, the total
number of plants it contains can be estimated. Permanent quadrats, with mapping grids
attached can be made to study seasonal variations of plants. These quadrats are sturdier, larger
and remain permanently fixed on a marked area.

Collection of soil animals with quadrats: The soil animals in an area can be studied by collecting
samples of soil from several sites chosen by tossing a quadrat randomly. A 25% sodium chloride
solution is added to each soil sample and the animals are collected as they float in the solution.

For earthworms, the sites chosen with the quadrat are irrigated with 25% formalin solution and
the earthworms are collected as they move to the surface of the soil.
 3. Transect Method: A marked tape is used in this method. The tape is marked at convenient
intervals and then stretched across the area to be studied. The plants encountered at the
interval marks are counted and recorded. This procedure is repeated a few times. In this way, a
fairly accurate estimate of the number and types of plants in the habitat are obtained. Plants are
usually collected in plastic bags and then pressed and dried in a plant press. The dried plants are
mounted on stiff paper, fixed in position with masking tape/cellotape and labeled with both the
scientific and common names.

4. Capture-Recapture Method: Animal populations may be estimated by the capture-recapture

method. In this method, animals of one type in a particular area are caught, counted (A1), and
marked with ink and released. The following day, the process is repeated and the number (A2) of
animals caught is recorded. At the same time, the number of marked animals (A3), from the
previous day, that were found in this sample are also counted and recorded. The population of
animals present in the area is found by using the following formula:

Population in Area =(A1XA2)/A3

This method is based on the assumptions that:

 Individuals do not move out of or into the ecosystem

 The marked individuals are randomly distributed in the population.

 The marked individuals are a random sample.

 The initial capture and markings do not influence recapture.

 That none of the marks have worn off during the interval between the two catches.

 The organisms are animals which have a random movement.

NB: The results obtained by this method are approximations.

TROPHIC LEVELS :
Trophic level is the step by step transfer of energy and nutrients among organisms in a food
chain, food web or ecological pyramid. Each feeding level or step in a food chain is referred to
as trophic level. In a simple language, trophic level means feeding level because the word
'trophic' means feeding. It shows how energy is being transferred from one point to the other
in a food chain, food web or ecological pyramid. There are two major categories of organisms
that are observed are the trophic levels in a food chain, food web or ecological pyramids. These
are:
I. the autotrophs (producers) and heterotrophs (consumers).
II. Trophic Level 1: Primary Producers or autotrophs: These are the organisms that make
use of energy from the sun to produce their own food from inorganic compounds
 through the process called photosynthesis. These are the green plants.
III. Trophic Level 2: Primary Consumers: These are the organisms that feed directly on the
autotrophs. They are the herbivores. Examples include grasshopper, antelope e.t.c.
IV. Trophic Level 3: Secondary Consumers: These are the organisms that feed directly on
the primary consumers/ herbivores. Examples include snakes, hawks, vultures e.t.c.
V. Trophic Level 4: Tertiary Consumers: These organisms feed directly on secondary
consumers. Examples include hawk, vulture, lion, man etc. The food chain below could
be used for illustration:

Food Web: A food web is a complex food chain. While the food chain is linear, the food web is
networked.
From the above,

The producer is the flower at trophic level -1

The primary consumer is the butterfly at trophic level -2

The secondary consumer is the frog at trophic level- 3

The tertiary consumer is snake at traffic level-4

The quaternary consumer is the hawk at trophic level-5

ECOLOGICAL PYRAMID

Ecological pyramids is the graphical representation of energy flow in a food chain or food web.
The graph is plotted in terms of the number of organisms, biomass of organisms, or the energy
content in the organisms. Hence, we have three types of ecological pyramid. These are:

i) Pyramid of numbers

ii) Pyramid of biomass

iii) pyramid of energy

i) Pyramid of Numbers: This is the number of individuals at each trophic level of a food chain
particular time. The length of each bar in the pyramid gives an approximate measure of the
number of individuals at that particular trophic level.
Ii) Pyramid of Biomass: Pyramid of biomass represents the total wet or dry mass of the
organism in each trophic level. To construct a pyramid of biomass, a sample of plants of a
particular species are obtained. The wet weight is recorded. To obtain the dry weight, the
plants are roasted to make sure that all the moisture content is gone. The remains are then
weighed to obtain the dry weight. The dry weight of this sample is estimate the dry weight of
the total plants obtained from that environment. This gives a more accurate representation of
the organisms at each trophic level. Each horizontal bar in the pyramid of biomass represents
the total biomass of the organisms at the trophic level in grams per square metre of the habitat.
Thus, pyramid of number takes into account the size and the number of the organisms at each
trophic level in the given habitat. Hence it seems to be more efficient and the pyramid of
numbers

iii) pyramid of energy: This is a graphical representation of energy flow in a food chain and
food web. Each horizontal bar represents the amount of energy in kilojoules per square meter
in a year at a particular trophic level in a given habitat. Hence, it is expressed in kilojoules per
metre square per year (KJ/m2/yr). It is always upright and bottom-heavy because there is
always energy loss from producers at the base through to the last trophic level. Pyramid of
energy is the best way to represent the energy flow among organisms at different trophic level
in a food chain or food web.
 Laws Of Thermodynamics
Laws of thermodynamics are used to explain how energy is being utilized in
nature. These laws are:

1. First Law of Thermodynamics or Law of Conservation of Energy: This law

states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be
transformed from one form to another. With this, we understand that
energy flows through a food chain from the primary source (the sun) to the
plant (producers), to the primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary
consumers etc.

2. Second law of Thermodynamics: This law states that in the conversion of

energy from one form to another, there is always a decrease in the amount
of useful energy. Hence, as we apply this to the food chain, food web and
pyramid of energy, energy will be seen to depleting as we move from one
trophic level to the other.
ASSIGNMENT: Study the diagram and the information below. Use them to answer question.

A B 70M

D E

80M
NOTE: Not drawn to scale.

The above diagram represents an abandoned farmland of dimensions 70m × 80m,

covered by Tridax procumbens and other weeds. The rectangle A, B, C, D and E
represent the area on which a 1m × 1m quadrat landed during a field sampling to
determine the population size for Tridax procumbens. Only five throws of the quadrat
were made during the sampling. Each dot within the rectangle A, B, C, D and E
represents a Tridax plant.

(a) Calculate the estimated size of Tridax population in the

abandoned farmland.
(b) What is the name of this method applied to determine the
population size of Tridax in the abandoned farmland?
(c) State two reasons it is important for a farmer to know the
population of the weeds on the farm.