Question

1. Discuss the pros and cons of using biogeographic patterns to determine minimum population sizes?

2. Distinguish between theoretical and simulation models used to predict minimum population sizes?

3. Why should we worry about the genetic variability in populations? How does this relate to the size of a given population and its potential to survive?

4.Explain the limitations of experiments in determining minimum population sizes

Answer 1

1) biogeography(biological +geographical) can be defined as the study of organism's distribution in the given space and given time.The patterns of such distribution of population due to biographical reasons can be studied through biogeographical patterns.

The advantages and disadvantages of studying biographical patterns to determine minimum population size can be summarised as below:

a) biogeographical patterns helps to understand the concept of evolution due to historic Geography changes that leads to change in population.

b)It helps to understand the biological diversities taking place and the effect it causes on size of population ,along with the interaction of biotic and abiotic factors influencing the same.

c)but,the limitations are there.it helps to study population size of a species at certain space but neither does it give the surety of the same occurance of species in some other space under given ecological conditions,nor the frequency of occurance.

2)The difference between threotical and stimulation model are as below:

a) threotical model as the name suggests provides with the unrealistic theoritical approach on distribution of population,it's extinction and factors determining it's growth.whereas, stimulation method provide a mathematical and a more realistic approach.

b)threotical model provides with theories that can be used in many situations available to determine population distribution and extinction probabilities,whereas in stimulation method each situation needs to be studied with there own specific population data as generalisation does not work.

3) genetic variability can be Termed as the Difference in the genetic constitution of two individuals belonging to same species.the genetic variability is the key to evolution.evolution helps the survival of the fittest species in nature.

The organism with favourable genetic constitution can survive better with external conditions effecting the population size accordingly.

4) the limitations of experiments in determining population size is :

a)the sample we chose to study population give the results that cannot be universally applied on all such samples of population as many factors affecting the results as demographic , historical,genetically,ecological might effect the results.

b) experiments are done in a controlled manner and donot always give the realistic results in terms of population study.