Population Ecology

Population ecology is an important subdiscipline of ecology. A population is commonly defined as a group of individuals of the same species that live in a specific geographic area at the same time and interact as a reproductive community. Population ecology studies how individuals within a population interact with one another, how different populations interact, and how these populations interact with their surrounding environment (Amler et al. 1999, Nentwig et al. 2011). It covers topics such as population genetics, statistical trends in population demographics and resource use, as well as spatial and temporal distribution of populations. Additionally, it examines the relationships between population size, species diversity, and habitat size, where population ecology overlaps with biogeography. For Natura 2000 managers, this fields provides insights into questions such as:

• What is the minimum viable population size, and how much habitat space does it require?
• What does the exchange between subpopulations look like (→ Metapopulation concept)?
• What growth patterns does a particular species exhibit?"

Sources

Amler K., Bahl A., Henle K. (Hrsg.) (1999): Populationsbiologie in der Naturschutzpraxis: Isolation, Flächenbedarf und Biotopansprüche von Pflanzen und Tieren. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart.

Nentwig, W., Bacher S., Brandl, R. (2017): Ökologie – kompakt. 4. Aufl. Springer Spektrum, Heidelberg.