Animal population?

Question

According to zoologists, animal population at a given time are governed by food supplies at that time.

Is this sentence correct and natural?
Some people think this sentence is correct while others think otherwise.
Should it be corrcted to "According to zoologists, animal population at a given time is restricted/determined by food supplies at that time"?

GPY · Accepted Answer

The minimum correction is to change "population" to "populations", or change "animal population ... are" to "an animal population ... is". Once this is fixed, the sentence is in my view acceptable. However, the following seems a bit better:

According to zoologists, the size of an animal population at any given time is determined by food supplies at that time.

That's as far as the use of English is concerned, but in terms of information content, surely there must be other factors too, such as predation or disease.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

Thank you very much. I see. But I am wondering if "animal population", "animal populations", "an animal population" and "the size of an animal population" differ in meaning?

GPY · Answer

"an animal population" is singular (refers to one quantity). "animal populations" is plural (refers to more than one quantity). However, in this kind of general statement there is little difference in ultimate meaning. "an animal population" means any unspecified population, so in effect it applies to all.

In "animal population" (no article), "population" would be uncountable. This is possible in some cases, but I would not use it in your sentence. (If you did use it uncountably, it would be "animal population at a given time is governed by ...".)

"the size of an animal population" is more specific and more precise in this case. Of course we would assume anyway that "population is determined/governed by food supplies" is referring to the size of the population rather than some other property, but it is more precise to explicitly say so, in my opinion.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

GPY"an animal population" is singular (refers to one quantity). "animal populations" is plural (refers to more than one quantity).

Thank you, GPY.
1. But I don't understand the meaning of "population" as in "an animal population" or "animal populations"? It doesn't seem to mean the number of animals.

2. Besides, I have discussed with some other advanced English learners about this sentence. As far as they are concerned, the original sentence is correct. Because "population" in this sentence can be followed by a plural form of BE when it refers to any individual animal in a group.
What do you make of it?

GPY · Answer

zuotengdazuo1. But I don't understand the meaning of "population" as in "an animal population" or "animal populations"? It doesn't seem to mean the number of animals.

Why do you think it doesn't mean that? What else could it be referring to?

zuotengdazuo2. Besides, I have discussed with some other advanced English learners about this sentence. As far as they are concerned, the original sentence is correct. Because "population" in this sentence can be followed by a plural form of BE when it refers to any individual animal in a group.

It is sometimes possible, at least in BrE, for "population" to take a plural verb when used in the sense of "(all) members of the population". For example, you could say "the population are up in arms". In careful or formal English, though, "is" is better in my opinion, and AmE tends to be stricter about enforcing the singular verb in cases like this.

When used in this way, "population" must have an article or other determiner. It cannot be uncountable. Also, "population" cannot be used in this way when the population is viewed as a single entity, which is the case, for example, when discussing its size. For example, while you can say "the population is increasing", you cannot say "the population are increasing". For both these reasons, "animal population ... are" in the original sentence is incorrect.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

GPY Why do you think it doesn't mean that? What else could it be referring to?

1.Thank you very much. I don't think it means that because when "population" refers to number, you can't say "a population"(though you can say "a population of") or "populations". For example, you would not say "The country's population is 100 million." But you would not say "The country's populations are 100 million", would you?

Does "population" mean "a group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a given area" when you say "a population" or "populations"?

2.What's more, when "population" is in the sense of "(all) members of the population", can we say "
According to zoologists, the animal population at a given time are governed by food supplies at that time."
Or "According to zoologists, animal population living in the wetlands at a given time are governed by food supplies at that time."? (Maybe we can use other articles or determiners?)

Thanks again.

GPY · Answer

zuotengdazuo I don't think it means that because when "population" refers to number, you can't say "a population"

The original doesn't say "a population". However, what you say is not always true anyway. You can say, for example, "an animal population increases when ...".

zuotengdazuoFor example, you would not say "The country's population is 100 million."

Yes, you would. That is exactly what you would say.

zuotengdazuoBut you would not say "The country's populations are 100 million", would you?

No.

zuotengdazuoDoes "population" mean "a group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a given area" when you say "a population" or "populations"?

Yes (or, by implication, its size).

zuotengdazuo2.What's more, when "population" is in the sense of "(all) members of the population", can we say "According to zoologists, the animal population at a given time are governed by food supplies at that time."

This is the use of "population" with a plural verb that I mentioned earlier. While this may sometimes be possible (at least in BrE), this particular sentence does not read well.

zuotengdazuoOr "According to zoologists, animal population living in the wetlands at a given time are governed by food supplies at that time."?

This is wrong just as the original is wrong. Adding "living in the wetlands" does not make any difference to the issues we are discussing.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

Thank you so much. But other than "the" as in "the anima population are governed by ...", can we use other determiner or articles?

GPY · Answer

zuotengdazuoThank you so much. But other than "the" as in "the anima population are governed by ...", can we use other determiner or articles?

"the animal population are governed by food supplies" is not very good English.

However, as far as "the animal population" itself is concerned, yes, you can use other determiners:

"an animal population"
"this animal population"
"any animal population"
etc,

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

Thank you for your hard work. I get it now.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/78.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/78.gif' alt='Emotion: nodding'/>

Animal population?

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