Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Modeling with Differential Equations01:25

Modeling with Differential Equations

Population dynamics can be described mathematically by considering the population size P(t) as a function of time. The rate of change of the population is then represented by the derivative of P(t). A simple assumption is that the rate of growth is proportional to the size of the population itself. This leads to an exponential growth model, where the population increases rapidly without bound. While this is a useful first approximation, it does not reflect realistic long-term...
Population Growth00:57

Population Growth

Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).
Mechanistic Models: Compartment Models in Individual and Population Analysis01:23

Mechanistic Models: Compartment Models in Individual and Population Analysis

Mechanistic models are utilized in individual analysis using single-source data, but imperfections arise due to data collection errors, preventing perfect prediction of observed data. The mathematical equation involves known values (Xi), observed concentrations (Ci), measurement errors (εi), model parameters (ϕj), and the related function (ƒi) for i number of values. Different least-squares metrics quantify differences between predicted and observed values. The ordinary least squares (OLS)...
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.
Exponential Equations for Modeling Growth01:26

Exponential Equations for Modeling Growth

Exponential models are essential for describing rapid, multiplicative changes in natural systems, such as population growth. When a population doubles at regular intervals, the process can be modeled using a suitable base. For instance, a bacterial culture that doubles every three hours follows the model n(t)=n0⋅2t/3, where n(t) is the population at the time t.A more general model uses the natural base e, especially for continuous growth. This takes the form n(t)=n0⋅ert, where r is the relative...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

UK food and nutrition security during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nutrition bulletin·2021
Same author

OPTIMAL REPRODUCTIVE EFFORT IN STOCHASTIC, DENSITY-DEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTS.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2017
Same author

Agriculture policy. EU agricultural reform fails on biodiversity.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2014
Same author

Agriculture. Sustainable intensification in agriculture: premises and policies.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2013
Same author

Indirect population dynamic benefits of altered life-history trade-offs in response to egg harvesting.

The American naturalist·2009
Same author

The influence of context-dependent maternal effects on population dynamics: an experimental test.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2009

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Individual variation and population dynamics: lessons from a simple system.

T G Benton1

  • 1Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. t.g.benton@leeds.ac.uk

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|December 7, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding how environmental variation affects population dynamics is complex. This study used a soil mite model to show that genetic and phenotypic variation significantly impacts population dynamics, comparable to halving food resources.

More Related Videos

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
15:00

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression
12:52

High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression

Published on: April 18, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
15:00

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression
12:52

High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression

Published on: April 18, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Population Dynamics
  • Mathematical Biology

Background:

  • Mapping environmental influences on individual life histories to population dynamics is challenging.
  • The dynamic importance of this mapping is often poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the dynamic importance of environmental variation using an individual-based model.
  • To investigate the roles of genetic and phenotypically plastic variation in population dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Developed an individual-based model based on a soil mite system.
  • Incorporated eight genetic rules for resource allocation (growth vs. reserves, maturation, reproduction).
  • Simulated density dependence emerging from resource competition.

Main Results:

  • Genetic and phenotypic variation significantly influence both short- and long-term population dynamics.
  • The impact of variation was comparable to a 50% reduction in food supply.
  • Identifying key processes required for accurate dynamic modeling by manipulating variation.

Conclusions:

  • Variation, and its origins, are crucial factors in ecological dynamics.
  • Individual-based models are valuable tools for dissecting complex ecological processes.
  • Further cross-system research is needed to build a shared understanding of ecological modeling.