OVERCROWDING
This is a situation in which a population increases beyond a point called the
carrying capacity where the resources (e.g. food and space) are not enough to
support all the individuals in the population. Therefore, overcrowding reduces
the food and space available for individual species in the population.
POPULATION
This is defined as the total number of organisms of the same species Inhabiting
a particular area or habitat at a particular point in time The size of population
varies due to different factors e.g Natality ,mortality immigration , immigration
In an ecosystem the community is made up of many populations of different
species
POPULATION DENSITY:
The number of individual organisms per unit area or volume of the habitat is
known as population density.
Population Density =
Population size =Population density× Area of habitat
FACTORS CAUSING OVERCROWDING
1. NATALITY: When there is an increase in the rate at which a particular
species gives birth in a restricted area , it results in overcrowding.
2. INCREASE IN FOOD SUPPLY: Increase In supply of food results in increase
in population which can later result in overcrowding
3. DECREASE IN MORTALITY: Overcrowding results when the rate of death of
organisms in a habitat is lower than the rate of birth.
4. IMMIGRATION: Inflow of individuals into a habitat increases the
population which later causes overcrowding.
5. LACK OF DISPERSAL : When there is lack of dispersal of fruits or seeds of
plants were they fall there will be overcrowding
6. SOCIAL HABITS OF ANIMALS: social animals which continued to live in
colonies increase and multiply and this leads to overcrowding eg in
termites, ants and bees lead to their multiplication in the colony.
7. INADEQUATE SPACE :If the space available Is small compared to the
number of the organisms ( plants or animals) present ,this will lead to
overcrowding.
8. ABSENCE OF PREDATORS :When there is absence of predators the
population of some species (prey) can grow to such a high level that will
eventually lead to overcrowding
EFFECTS OF OVERCROWDING
These include:
1. SHORTAGE OF FOOD: Since the available food in the habitat is rapidly
eaten up due to overcrowding.
2. SHORTAGE OF SPACE. This is due to increasing population of species.
3. COMPETITION: This occurs as the organisms struggle for scarce resources
e.g. food, space. The stronger ones get the resources while the weaker
ones are deprived i.e survival of the fittest.
4. ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS :This include behaviours like fighting or
cannibalism which can result from the stress of overcrowding.
5. EASY SPREAD OF DISEASES: Diseases spread easily e.g. tuberculosis in
human (air-borne).
6. DEATH OF ORGANISMS. : Weaker organisms in overcrowded area easily
dies off due to lack of food and space.
ADAPTATION TO AVOID OVERCROWDING
To survive overcrowding, plants and animals have developed the following
adaptive features:
1. TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOUR:Animals like mammals, lizards, birds etc
establish territories which they are possessive of. They fight for and
defend the territories against any intruders. A successful claim of the
territory ensures sufficient food, space mating partners and parental care
for the organisms.
2. SWARMING:This is exhibited by some social animals such as termite and
bees when some of them move out from an old colony to a new one.
Hence, overcrowding is avoided.
3. EMIGRATION :This is the outward movement of animals out of their
locality to anther place of settlement. This prevent overcrowding.
4. DISPERSAL OF SEEDS AND FRUITS :This could be by water, wind, animals,
insects and explosive mechanism. The seeds and fruits are carried far away
from the parent plants. Hence, overcrowding is prevented.
5. FORMATION OF CANOPIES: This is an attribute of forest trees. This helps
the plants to trap enough sunlight and also prevent the shorter plants
below from getting the light. The lower plants eventually die off and
overcrowding is avoided.
6. PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS: Roots of some plants produce chemicals
which prevent the growth of other plants close to them. Therefore,
overcrowding is avoided.
FOODSHORTAGE
In a well-established habitat, population sizes of various species are adjusted to
the quantity of food that is available in the habitat. Factors that can decrease
the food supply to the habitat thereby causing food shortage are as follows:
• Natural disaster like flood, drought
• Diseases of plants and animals
• Pests such as locust, grasshoppers, weevils
• Lack of or inadequate storage facilities
• Bush burning which destroys soil organisms reduces soil fertility and
exposed the soil to erosion.
All these result in poor yield and eventual food shortage
EFFECT OF FOOD SHORTAGE ON POPULATION SIZE
1. COMPETITION: - Scarcity of food leads to struggling among organisms for
any available food. This results in the survival of the fittest. This can result
in fighting and cannibalism (animals feeding on themselves e.g. man)
2. EMIGRATION: - Animals also move from an area of food shortage to
where sufficient food is available.
3. DECREASE IN THE RATE OF REPRODUCTION: - Many human beings and
marriage due to lack of or inadequate food supply may engage in family
planning to reduce the number of children to be catered for.
