Population Density

Population Attributes

• Population is defined as the total number of individuals of a species in a specific geographical area, which can interbreed under natural conditions to produce fertile offspring and function as a unit of biotic community.

• Population ecology links ecology to population genetics and evolution.

Characteristics of a population:

1. Population size or density: of a species is the number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume.

2. Birth or natality rate: It is expressed as the number of births per 1,000 individuals of a population per year.

3. Death or mortality rate: It is expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 individuals of a population per year.

4. Sex ratio: It is expressed as the number of females per 1,000 males of a population in given time.