what is a population bio course hero

What if the modern field of population biology were around?

Perhaps if the modern field of population biology were around then to study these birds, they may be around for us to enjoy today. Population biology is a subset study within ecology that evaluates factors that affect populations. A population is defined as a group of the same species living in a similar geographical area.

What are the characteristics of population biology?

Population biology is the study of population characteristics and the factors that affect their size and distribution. The characteristics which are studied include the migratory patterns, the population density, the demographics (the birth and death rates, sex ratio and age distribution), the population genetics,...

How do population biologists evaluate a population of species?

When a population biologist begins to evaluate a population of species, they use many tools to help them gather information. Detailed notes are taken while observing the animals, and every component of the population are carefully measured.

What is the best definition of population?

1 Population Definition. A population is the number of organisms of the same species that live in a particular geographic area at the same time, with the capability of interbreeding. 2 Examples of Populations. ... 3 Quiz. ...

What do population ecologists study quizlet?

Terms in this set (18) What characteristics do ecologists study to learn about populations? Ecologists study populations by examining their geographic range, growth rate, density and distribution, and age structure!

What is meant by population density?

Population density is the concentration of individuals within a species in a specific geographic locale. Population density data can be used to quantify demographic information and to assess relationships with ecosystems, human health, and infrastructure.

What are the 3 types of dispersion?

A specific type of organism can establish one of three possible patterns of dispersion in a given area: a random pattern; an aggregated pattern, in which organisms gather in clumps; or a uniform pattern, with a roughly equal spacing of individuals.

Are wolves uniform or clumped?

Uniform distribution: individuals maximize space between them by being uniformly spaced. This results from territorial behavior. Wolves: have a clumped distribution pattern, feed on moose together in large packs.

What is the term population?

Definition of population 1a : the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region. b : the total of individuals occupying an area or making up a whole. c : the total of particles at a particular energy level —used especially of atoms in a laser.

What is population density in one word answer?

Definition of population density : the number of people living in each unit of area (such as a square mile) This part of the country has a high population density.

What is population dispersion in biology?

The dispersion pattern (distribution pattern) of a population describes the arrangement of individuals within a habitat at a particular point in time, and broad categories of patterns are used to describe them.

What is population dispersal?

The process by which groups of living organisms expand the space or range within which they live.

What are called population processes?

Population processes are typically characterized by processes of birth and immigration, and of death, emigration and catastrophe, which correspond to the basic demographic processes and broad environmental effects to which a population is subject.

What is dispersion in EVS?

Dispersion is the spreading of a population or organism away from its parents and happens when organisms are looking for additional resources or as an adaptation to environmental changes. Dispersion is influenced by various environmental factors such as temperature or terrain.

What causes population dispersion?

Uniform patterns of dispersion are generally a result of interactions between individuals like competition and territoriality. Clumped patterns usually occur when resources are concentrated in small areas within a larger habitat or because of individuals forming social groups.

When there is a lack of resources such as food water sunlight shelter and space this is often called?

An organism's niche includes food, shelter, its predators, the temperature, the amount of moisture the organism needs to survive, etc. When two or more individuals or populations try to use the same limited resources such as food, water, shelter, space, or sunlight, it is called competition.

How many mountain gorillas are there in Africa?

The total population of mountain gorillas consists of around 1000 individuals.

What scale do local populations occur?

Populations can occur on various different scales. A local population can be confined to a spatially small area, i.e., the fish in one pond. However, this locality can operate on a regional, countrywide, island or continental scale; it may even make up the entire species. If individuals of local populations are able to disperse between other local ...

What is it called when individuals of local populations are able to disperse between other local populations?

If individuals of local populations are able to disperse between other local populations, this is called a metapopulation. Population biology is the study of population characteristics and the factors that affect their size and distribution.

Why are populations not stable?

Most populations are not stable, fluctuating in size over time (the letter ‘N’ often denotes the number of individuals in a population). The fluctuations are usually in response to changes in the abiotic and biotic factors, which act as limiting factors against indefinite exponential growth of populations.

What is it called when a large number of individuals within a population are unable to survive?

This is called a population bottleneck. Bottleneck Effect.

What is the definition of population?

A population is the number of organisms of the same species that live in a particular geographic area at the same time, with the capability of interbreeding. For interbreeding to occur, individuals must be able to mate with any other member of a population and produce fertile offspring.

Why are larger populations more resilient to stochastic changes?

This is because there is a higher chance that a genetic mutation within the gene pool is better adapted to survive in the new situation.

Why are biotic factors important?

However, biotic factors are just as important as abiotic factors in understanding the biology of a population. All organisms depend on other organisms to survive, which are the biotic factors. Every organism is either a predator or a prey, or both. When understanding the biology of a population, it's important to consider where and how ...

What are the factors that affect the population of organisms?

There are countless factors involved in studying populations of organisms. Scientists categorize some of these factors into groupings, such as abiotic ( or all non-living factors) and biotic (or all living factors). Organisms need nutrients, water, shelter, sunlight, and air, which are abiotic factors .

What are the research tools used to study populations?

The research tools used to study populations include observation, experimentation, and modeling of populations. Many factors are considered when judging the health of populations, such as demographic, migratory, abiotic, and biotic factors. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Create your account.

What is population biology?

Population biology is a subset study within ecology that evaluates factors that affect populations. A population is defined as a group of the same species living in a similar geographical area. All life can be studied within this field, from mountain gorillas in Africa to passenger pigeons in North America.

What happens if a population doesn't have access to abiotic factors?

If a population doesn't have access to abiotic factors, it could mean their demise. Every population is in a fight for access to these factors. This competition between species can mean the growth of one and the decline of another.

Why did passenger pigeons decline?

One demographic theory of why the passenger pigeons quickly declined centers on how they reproduced in conjunction to how they were hunted. Females lay only one egg per year, which is a low birth rate, and in addition, the birds experienced a high death rate due to over-hunting.

What are the characteristics of a population?

The characteristics of a population would include migration in and out of areas, density of the population, and demography. Demography is the study of the decline or increase of populations. A species on the decline may be near extinction, like the polar bear. A species increasing rapidly could mean it's invasive, like a beetle eating crops or a weed that strangles out native plants. The ratio of birth to death rate determines if a species will rebound, be lost forever, or become invasive.