Define population. Describe in brief the characteristics population.

Explanation

Population is the group of organisms of the same species in a particular area at a particular time.
Characteristics of Population.
1. Density. It is expressed as total number of individuals per unit area or volume at a given time. The size of the population is determined by the available resources like nutrients, water etc. at a given time and other group properties such as natality, mortality and age structure.
2. Natality. It is increase in number of individuals in a population under given environmental conditions. Birth, hatching, germination and even vegetative propagation cause increase in number of individuals.
3. Mortality. The loss of individuals due to death in a population under given environmental conditions is called mortality.
4. Dispersal. The individuals move into immigration and move out of the population (emigration) which affects the size of the population.
5. Age Distribution. The various age groups in a population like pre-reproductive, reproductive and post reproductive affect largely the size of the population.
6. Biotic Potential. It is the inherent maximum capacity of an organism to reproduce or increase in number. It is realized when the environment conditions are non-limiting so that natality rate is maximum and mortality rate is minimum. Under these conditions, population size increases at the maximum rate.