A population is a group of individuals of the same species that share the same area. You know that many organisms are born and then die within a population every year, but how does studying population growth help to understand the long-term survival of a species? Species survive over thousands of years by using their environment to gain resources that are necessary for survival. In nature these resources are limited, and individuals within a population will compete for them in order to survive.

Interactive exercise. Assistance may be required. Long-term survival of a species is based on resources that are limited. What are some limited resources that organisms may compete for in nature? Click on the question marks below to find out.

Video segment. Assistance may be required. Watch the following video that describes how populations can grow and decline.

Source: Populations Biotic Potential, Great Pacific Media, You Tube

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