Notice that the “d” associated with the first term refers to the derivative (as the term is used in calculus) and is different from the death rate, also called “d.” The difference between birth an...Notice that the “d” associated with the first term refers to the derivative (as the term is used in calculus) and is different from the death rate, also called “d.” The difference between birth and death rates is further simplified by substituting the term “r” (intrinsic rate of increase) for the relationship between birth and death rates:
Often, however, we do not have good estimates of the size of a population itself, but factors that should be correlated with the population size, such as the number of animals harvested by hunters or ...Often, however, we do not have good estimates of the size of a population itself, but factors that should be correlated with the population size, such as the number of animals harvested by hunters or trapped by ecologists or the density of dung found during a survey.
Ecology is often defined as the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms. Population ecologists study what determines the occurrence and abundance of species in space and time: their geog...Ecology is often defined as the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms. Population ecologists study what determines the occurrence and abundance of species in space and time: their geographic ranges, population sizes and densities, what factors result in them being so rare or common, and why these characteristics change over time.
