bestånden

Bestånden is a Danish noun used to refer to the populations or stocks of a species, group, or demographic within a defined area. It is most commonly employed in ecology, wildlife management, and fisheries to discuss the size, distribution, and change over time of living groups. In official statistics and policy documents, bestånden is used when distinguishing between different populations or stocks within a region or country, such as the bestånden af en art in a specific habitat or jurisdiction. The term reflects a focus on the collective set of individuals rather than on any single member.

Bestånden is the definite plural form of the Danish noun bestand, which means stock or population. It derives from the same root as the English word “stock” and is formed with a Danish plural definite suffix. The term is therefore used primarily in formal or technical contexts rather than everyday speech.

In practice, phrases such as bestånden af en art and bestånden af befolkningen appear in ecological assessments, management plans, and census reports. Assessments typically cover population size, geographic range, age structure, and trends. While any population can be described as a bestånden, the term is especially common when comparing multiple populations or stocks across regions or over time.

See also: Bestand, population (demography), wildlife management, fisheries science.