Question

Which of the following is not an attribute of a population?

• A. Sex ratio
• B. Birth rate
• C. Death rate
• D. Species interaction

Answer 1

The correct option is D Species interaction

Population is a group of individuals of the same species living at one place. A population has certain attributes which an individual does not. The population has birth rates and death rates while an individual may have only birth, death or both. Another attribute of a population is sex ratio. An individual is either a male or a female but a population has a sex ratio.

Individuals live within an ecological community which is nothing but an assemblage of populations (at least two) that interact directly and indirectly within a given area. Species interactions form the basis for ecosystem properties and processes such as nutrient cycling and food webs. Thus, it is clear from the above discussion that species interactions come into picture only at the community level and not at the population level.