Question

explore: population distribution
population distribution describes how organisms are distributed in the environment
three distribution patterns are usually recognized: random, clumped or uniform. in the diagrams
below, the circles represent individuals of the same species.
random distribution
in random distributions, the position of one individual is independent of others. random
distribution is uncommon but can occur in uniformly structured areas where no
factors determine distribution, e.g. oyster larvae settling on rocks or dandelion seeds
or dandelion seeds germinating after being dispersed by wind or other means.
clumped distribution
in clumped distributions, individuals are grouped in patches (often around resources). clumped
distributions are the most common type of distribution pattern in nature for
other highly social species and in environments where resources are patchy.
uniform distribution
in uniform (regular) distributions individuals are evenly spaced to maximize distance from
neighbors. uniform distributions occur in territorial species, e.g. breeding colonies of seabirds,
also occurs in plants that produce chemicals to inhibit the growth of nearby plants.

1. name the type of distribution would you expect to see when:

(a) resources are not evenly spread out: _____________
(b) resources are evenly spread out: _____________
(c) animals have greater hunting success as a group: _____________
(d) animals are territorial: _____________

1. how do you think resource availability (e.g. food, water, space) affect distribution? _____________

Explanation:

• (a) When resources are not evenly spread out, organisms will cluster around the available resources. This is characteristic of clumped distribution.
• (b) If resources are evenly spread out, organisms can be evenly spaced to access those resources, which is uniform distribution.
• (c) If animals have greater hunting success as a group, they will tend to group together, leading to clumped distribution.
• (d) Territorial animals need to space themselves out to defend their territory, resulting in uniform distribution.
• For the effect of resource availability: Resources are a key factor. Scarce or unevenly - distributed resources lead to clumped distribution as organisms gather where resources are. Abundant and evenly - distributed resources can support uniform distribution as there is no need for clustering. Random distribution is rare but can occur when resources have a minimal or unpredictable influence on organism placement.

Answer:

(a) Clumped distribution
(b) Uniform distribution
(c) Clumped distribution
(d) Uniform distribution
For the effect of resource availability: Resource availability is a major determinant of population distribution. Scarce or unevenly - distributed resources (e.g., patches of food in a desert) lead to clumped distribution as organisms aggregate in resource - rich areas. Abundant and evenly - distributed resources (e.g., evenly spread grass in a well - watered plain) can support uniform distribution. Random distribution is less common but may occur when resources do not strongly influence organism placement (e.g., some rare plant species in a highly variable environment where resource patches are not the main factor for seedling establishment).