FACTORS AFFECTING POPULATION GROWTH
by Antonio C. Antonio
March 6, 2015
“Population growth” and “population explosion” are nagging
terms that have remained bothersome in the human psyche. On a larger sense, population has a direct
relationship to other equally nagging statements and concerns such as: (a) food
security; (b) land use conversion; (c) terrestrial carrying capacity; (d)
biodiversity conservation; (e) ecological balance; etc. Before we jump into the more complex impact
and effects of population on the environment, it is more important for us to
understand the simple word “population”. (Antonio, 2015) Having stated this, we probably need to
determine the factors affecting population growth to better understand the
dynamic relationship between population and the environment.
FOOD QUANTITY AND FOOD QUALITY: The quantity and quality of food available is
very critical to the survival of a population.
The availability of food affects the growth, development and survival
especially the younger segment of a population.
Both the quantity and quality of food has a direct effect on the
carrying capacity of a specific habitat.
While both flora and fauna require the same basic elements for the
growth of a population, there is a difference in their energy sources. While plants depend primarily on inorganic
materials as their source of energy, animals depend on both plants and animals
for their nutritional requirement.
Animals are either carnivores or herbivores or a combination of
carnivores and herbivores at the same time.
There are also some plant species that depend on decomposing plants and
animals for their nutrition. There
really is a dependence character between plants and animals when it comes to
food and nutrition.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER:
Let us first define and differentiate climate and weather. “CLIMATE is defined as: (1) the average long-term pattern of
weather in a particular area or region. Climate normally undergoes a
cyclic change over a longer period of time covering years, decades, centuries
or millennia; (2) the average course or condition in a particular place or area
over a period of time exhibited by temperature, wind velocity and
precipitation; and, (3) the prevailing set of environmental conditions on a
particular region on earth characterizing a long period of time. On the
other hand, WEATHER is defined as the state of the atmosphere with respect to
heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness over a
relatively short period of time.” (Antonio, 2015) Extreme weather and climactic conditions may
cause high death rate that affect population growth. The reproductive capability of a population
is also influenced by climate and weather and, therefore, also has a
significant effect on population growth.
INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION:
Intraspecific competition as a interaction in population ecology whereby
members of the same species compete for the same resources or limited resources
in a specific area. This leads to a
reduction in fitness for both individuals.
This condition has profound effects on the health and reproduction
capability of both flora and fauna in a specific habitat.
INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION:
Interspecific competition, in ecology, is a form of competition
characterized by individuals of different species competing for the same
resource in an ecosystem (therefore, food or territory). This is opposed to intraspecific completion
in the sense that actual competition involves different species of plants and
animals in a specific habitat which also affects population growth.
PREDATION: In ecology, predation
is a biological interaction wherein a predator (an organism always in the hunt)
feeds on its prey (an organism that is hunted).
Predators often kill their prey before feeding on their tissues. Predation is commonly associated with
carnivory (meaning: an animal that feeds on flesh) although sometimes it could
also be associated with herbivory (meaning: the eating and consumption of
plants). Predation reduces animal and
plant population and affects population growth.
In human populations, predation could very well be the killing of people
for other resources… not food, but other natural resources and territory.
These are the more common factors affecting population growth.
Just my little
thoughts…
(Please visit,
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REFERENCES:
Antonio, A. C. (2015). Population. Retrieved 6th of March
2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/
Antonio, A. C. (2015). Climate and Weather. Retrieved 6th of
March 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/search?q=CLIMATE+AND+WEATHER
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