In population ecology, what is the difference between population density and population distribution?

• A. Population density describes the age structure of a population, whereas population distribution describes the birth and death rates.
• B. Population density is the number of individuals per unit area (or volume), whereas population distribution describes how individuals are spaced within that area (e.g., clumped, uniform, or random).
• C. Population density refers to the geographic range size of a species, whereas population distribution refers to the maximum carrying capacity of its habitat.
• D. Population density is the pattern of spacing among individuals, whereas population distribution is the number of individuals per unit area.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that population density and population distribution are two distinct concepts used in population ecology to describe different aspects of populations.
2. Step 2: Define population density as the number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume. This gives a quantitative measure of how crowded a population is in a given space.
3. Step 3: Define population distribution as the pattern or arrangement of individuals within the area they occupy. This describes how individuals are spaced relative to each other, such as clumped, uniform, or random distributions.
4. Step 4: Recognize that population density is a numerical value (e.g., 50 individuals per square kilometer), while population distribution describes the spatial pattern without necessarily providing a number.
5. Step 5: Summarize that population density measures 'how many' individuals are in a space, whereas population distribution describes 'how' those individuals are spread out within that space.