1. A population is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time. The size of a population depends on factors like birth rate, death rate, immigration and emigration.
2. Population growth is influenced by birth rate, death rate, environmental resistance, and carrying capacity. When birth rates exceed death rates, the population increases, but environmental factors can cause the population to fluctuate over time.
3. Key factors that affect population size include natality, mortality, survivorship, life tables, and emigration. Population growth patterns follow J-curves or S-curves as the population approaches the carrying capacity of the environment.