singlepopulation

Single population refers to a group of individuals of a single species that occupy a defined geographic area and are treated as a single demographic unit for study and management. In ecology and population biology, it is used to distinguish from subpopulations, demes, or metapopulations, where individuals may interact primarily within local patches or migrate among patches. A single population is assumed to have ongoing gene flow within the area, though in practice barriers and habitat heterogeneity can create structure.

Key parameters include population size (N), density, age structure, birth and death rates, and the growth rate (r). Population dynamics are often modeled with exponential growth when resources are abundant, or logistic growth incorporating carrying capacity (K). These models describe how N changes over time given r and K, and they form the basis for management decisions such as harvest limits or habitat restoration.

Studying a single population involves enumeration and monitoring through census or sampling methods such as mark-recapture, transect counts, distance sampling, or genetic sampling to estimate N and structure. Advances in remote sensing and telemetry aid in understanding distribution and movements within the defined area.

Relation to other concepts: while a single population is the simplest unit of analysis, real-world systems often consist of multiple populations linked by migration, forming metapopulations. In population genetics, a single population model informs allele frequency changes due to drift, selection, and mutation within that unit.