characteristics of a population

• POPULATION


  Group of individuals of a single species inhabiting an area with the potential to interbreed
• Populations


  • Dynamic entities
  • Population ecology focuses on the various factors that affects a population
  • Population studies are significant in solving practical problems such as controlling pest, management of populations
• Population size


  Total number of members a species has
• Migration


  Large-scale movement of a species to another area
• Population Density


  Number of species present in a given space
• Population dispersion


  Distribution of the species in a specific space at a given time
• Natality


  Species birth rate
• Mortality


  Rate of death within a species
• Sex Ratio


  Ratio of male to female in the population
• Age structure


  Proportionate numbers of people in different age categories in a given population for a defined time
• Migrations


  • May be a seasonal or permanent movement of a species towards new locations in search of food, better environment conditions, or reproductive opportunities
  • Can change established ecosystems, thus making it an important factor in population ecology
• Random dispersion


  Species have no definitive pattern and may be found in the area sporadically
• Clumped dispersion


  Species tends to live and move about in groups
• Fisher's Principle


  The general ratio of male to female in a species population is 1:1
• Spatial Dynamics


  Considers how populations are distributed across different habitats or geographic areas
• Temporal Dynamics


  Population dynamics over time involving changes in population size and composition
• Local population


  Group of organisms of the same species that occupy a specific geographic area or habitat within a larger ecosystem
• Local population extinction


  Occurs when all individuals of a species disappear from a particular area or habitat
• Factors affecting population


  • Birth and Death rates
  • Natality
  • Mortality
  • Immigration and Emigration
  • Environmental Factors
• Metapopulation


  • A group of same individuals living in different places forming 'patches'
  • The movement of individuals from one population to another occurs regularly
• Patches


  Areas of habitat suitable for a species of interest, defined by their boundaries
• Conditions that define a Metapopulation

  • Suitable habitats are found in discrete patches
  • All subpopulations have a risk of extinction
  • Patches are close enough to be recolonized
  • Local population growth dynamics may not be synchronized
• Metapopulation models


  • Classical model (Levin's model)
  • Mainland model
  • Patch occupying model (Clumped population)
  • Non-equilibrium model
  • Intermediate model
• Primer


  A short nucleic acid sequence that provides a starting point for DNA synthesis
• Population genetics


  Field of biology that studies the genetic composition of biological populations and the changes in genetic composition that results from the operation of various factors including natural selection
• Natural selection


  Process by which some organisms in a population survive and reproduce while others do not based on their bodies and behavior
• simply the number of members of a species population with a specific time period

  population size
• what are the population traits

  population size and migration, population distribution and dispersion, natality and mortality, and sex ratio and age structure
• Migration is referred to as the large-scale movement of a species to another area.
• refers to the total number of members a species has.

  Population size
• refers to the proportionate numbers of people in different age categories in a given population for a defined time.

  age structure
• spatial dynamics examines

  population density ane dispersion
• temporal dynamics studies changes in

  population size and composition
• It is used to identify regions where they might be high birth rate-low death rate, or low birth rate-high death rate.

  Age structure
• refers to how the population of organisms change in size and distribution across a geographical space and across different points in time.

  interdisciplinary study