04.03 Ecosystems Summary
Birth, death, migration, community interactions, and abiotic factors can influence the size of a population
Changes to ecosystems due to season, climate, and successions, can also impact population growth and decline
The effects of all of these components combine to determine the carrying capacity of a population within a
particular ecosystem
Now that you have completed this lesson, you should be able to
1 describe four factors that affect population size
2 identify factors that limit population growth
3. explain the difference between primary and secondary succession
4 differentiate between habitat and niche
Population Dynamics Lab
in this lab activity, you will investigate how predation, birthrates, and death rates influence the killer whale and
seal populations within their marine ecosystem. The killer whales and seals have a predation relationship in the icy
Arctic Ocean Killer whales are predators and hunt their prey, the seals, for food Due to their relationship, the killer
whale and seal populations are interconnected, one population limits the growth of the other
The assignment for this lesson is a virtual lab activity
• Be sure to read the instructions before completing the virtual lab activity
Download and complete the population Dynamics Lab Report
• Be sure to review the rubric before completing and submitting the assignment to your instructor
• Use this student example to review how to complete a lab report