Question

Enlist and explain the important characteristics of a population.

Answer 1

The important characteristics of a population are population size, population density, natality, mortality, sex ratio, immigration, emigration, age pyramids, expanding population, population growth forms, and biotic potential.

1. Population density: Population density tells us the number of individuals present in per unit space, in a given time. OR The density of a population is the total number of individuals in that population present per unit area at a specific time.
2. Natality: Natality is the birth rate of a population.
3. Mortality: Mortality is the death rate of a population.
4. Age distribution and Age pyramids: 1. A population consists of individuals of different ages. The entire population is divided into three age groups – pre-reproductive (0-14 years), reproductive (age 15-44 years), post-reproductive (45-85+years)The relative proportion of individuals of various age groups in the population is referred to as the age structure of the population. 2. If the age distribution (percent individuals of a given age or age group) is plotted for the population, the resulting structure is called as age pyramid.
5. Sex Ratio: Sex ratio is the ratio of the number of individuals of one sex to that of the other sex.