Population dynamics

Population dynamics studies how population size, composition, and distribution change over time through births, deaths, migration, and interactions with the environment.

Exponential growth: A growth pattern in which a quantity increases at a rate proportional to its current size. It models population increase when resources and conditions impose few limits.
Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a defined area at a given time. Population dynamics tracks change in groups defined this way.
Population viability analysis: A modeling approach that estimates an endangered population's risk of extinction under specified conditions. It applies demographic rates and uncertainty to conservation decisions.
Population genetics: The study of genetic variation and its change within populations over generations. It tracks allele frequencies, whereas population dynamics centers on abundance and structure.
Logistic growth: A growth pattern that slows as a population approaches an environment's carrying capacity. It captures how crowding and limited resources restrain population increase.
Birth rate: The number of births in a population per unit time, often expressed per individual. Births add individuals and shape the population's rate of increase.
Fisheries management: The regulation of fishing to sustain fish populations and fisheries over time. Population estimates inform harvest limits and rebuilding plans.
Community ecology: The study of interactions among populations of different species in a community. It broadens the focus from one population to the assemblage of interacting species.
Age structure: The distribution of individuals across age groups in a population. Different age compositions produce different future birth and death rates.
Mortality rate: The frequency of deaths in a population over a specified period. Deaths reduce abundance and can vary with age, density, and environment.

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