Population ecology studies how populations interact and change in an environment. Charles Darwin’s work on animal populations helped understand how animals adapt to survive. Population ecology provides models and predictions for conservation efforts, but it may not account for all variables in an environment.
Population ecology, originally called autoecology, is the study of how populations interact and change within a given environment. Using this science, experts can offer advanced theories about the growth or mortality rate of different species. The knowledge gained from population ecology is extremely useful for conservation efforts as it can provide a general picture of the survivability of populations.
One of the fathers of modern population equality is Charles Darwin, the famous British scientist. Expanding on the earlier work of Thomas Malthus, Darwin theorized much of what is known about the evolution of species for survival. In his studies of animal populations, such as finches, Darwin was able to understand how animals adapted to survive in their specific environment. The interaction between population and environment forms the backbone of much of the work done in population ecology.
Algorithms and models for population behavior caused much debate among experts throughout the 20th century. While most agreed that there should be basic formulas for determining the probable survival rate of the population, there wasn’t much consensus on what those formulas were. Today, population ecology presents a mass of graphs and tables to determine the principles of how a population will behave. While no method has proven absolutely perfect, the ability to produce approximately accurate predictions appears to increase as new theories are tested in the field.
While the science and mathematics that shape population ecology may be difficult for the layman to understand, the value of the results is easily measurable. The field is vital to conservation groups’ efforts, as it provides models and predictions of how a population survives in its environment. Population ecology can show the effects of a newly introduced plant or animal on the local ecosystem; information that can be extremely important in areas where exotic species can wreak havoc on local creatures.
In restocking efforts, population ecology can also suggest how well an introduced species will fare in a protected area such as a national park or nature reserve. There is some concern, however, that the inaccuracy of the science may actually be to the detriment of some borderline endangered species. If a model incorrectly suggests that a population is thriving or will greatly increase in numbers, local governments may issue hunting or gathering permits based on the model rather than actual numbers. Perhaps it is best to keep in mind that nature is unpredictable and that population ecology, while improving, can never account for all possible variables in an environment.
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