Population Density

Definition

Population density refers to the number of individuals per unit area or volume in an ecological community. It's an important concept in ecology because it influences how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Related terms

Carrying Capacity: The maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support without degrading resources over time.

Population Distribution: How individuals within a population are spread out across their habitat—whether evenly spaced, clumped together, or randomly dispersed.

Density-Dependent Factors: Factors such as disease or food availability that affect population growth and vary with the density of the population.