Populationerna

Populationerna is a Swedish term meaning "the populations." In scholarly and policy contexts, it is used as a generic label for multiple populations across space or time. The form is formed by population (population) with the definite plural suffix -erna. The term is common in Swedish-language demography and ecology, but it can appear in literature across social sciences and biology.

In demography and sociology, Populationerna can refer to population groups defined by geographic area, age, sex, ethnicity, income, or other characteristics. Analysts compare Populationerna across regions to identify disparities in fertility, mortality, migration, or labor participation and to forecast future needs for housing, education, and health services.

In ecology and biology, Populationerna denotes populations of a given species within a study area. Researchers study size, density, age structure, growth rate, reproduction, and interactions with predators, competitors, and the environment to understand dynamics, viability, and extinction risk.

Data collection relies on censuses or registers for human populations, and field surveys, mark-recapture, or genetic sampling for non-human populations. Statistical models estimate trends, growth projections, and carrying capacity.

Applications range from public policy and urban planning to conservation and resource management. The term underscores the plural and comparative aspect of population data, emphasizing how different populations respond to social, economic, and ecological forces.

See also: population, demography, ecology, statistics.