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HPG - What is Population? Lesson

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What is Population?

Earth is so Popular!

When you think of the world population, you might think of the number of people in your town or city. But humans are not the only species to have populations. Every species has a population or many populations.

This group of penguins, which are all members of the same species and all living together in the same space, is a population.

Penguins Video

But whether you are talking about humans, plants, or animals – population dynamics matter. 

Population Dynamics

A population is a group of organisms of the same species, all living in the same area and interacting with each other. 

A population is a group of organisms of the same species, all living in the same area and interacting with each other.  Since they live together in one area, members of the same species reproduce together. Ecologists who study populations try and determine how healthy or stable the populations are based in their size. They also examine how the individuals of a species interact with each other and how populations interact with the environment. All of this is part population dynamics.

 

Ecologists look at many factors that help to describe a population.

Comparing Lenders Activity

Density and dispersion have an effect on reproduction and population size.

What do you think the relationship is between population density, dispersion and size?

Ecologists also study the birth and death rates of the population.

Calculating the Population Health Video

Knowing the birth and death rates of populations gives information about a population’s health. For example, when a population is made up of mostly young organisms and the birth rate is high, the population is growing. A population with equal birth and death rates will remain the same size. Populations that are decreasing in size have a higher death rate than birth rate.

What is Population? Challenge Activity

 

Before You Go, You Need To Know

The following key points are from this explore section of the lesson. You must know the following information before moving to the next lesson. This is just a summary of the key points.

  • A population is a group of organisms of the same species, all living in the same area and interacting with each other.
  • Scientists can study many aspects of a population, including density, dispersion, and birth and death rates.
  • Change in Population Size = Birth - Death

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