What is the study of how populations change over time called?

The study of how populations change over time is referred to as population dynamics. This field focuses on analyzing the size, structure, and distribution of populations, as well as how these factors are affected by births, deaths, immigration, and emigration. Understanding population dynamics helps scientists and ecologists predict how populations will respond to changes in the environment, resource availability, and interaction with other species.

Ecology is a broader field that encompasses the relationships between organisms and their environment but does not specifically focus on changes in population size and composition over time. Ecosystem analysis investigates the interactions between various ecosystems and the biotic and abiotic factors influencing those ecosystems but lacks the specific focus on population-level changes. Behavioral ecology studies the evolutionary basis for animal behavior in the context of environmental pressures but does not directly address changes in population dynamics.