What exactly is age structure?

Question

This is the definition given to me in my textbook: The relative number of individuals of each age.

Could someone break it down for me, or give an example. I really want to understand the topic. Sorry for sounding like an oxy-moron.

Answer 1

Population is strongly affected by age structure of youngs and adults and it is related with reproductive, pre-reproductive and post reproductive potentials of the individuals in a species age-structure.

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To EXPLAIN........

I will give you an example here.

This is am example of RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION in sp. Virginia opposum ( let's assume)

See the relative proportion of age in a age pyramid of various individuals........

EXAMPLE: 1

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ( age pyramid)

Very old------------>  4 individuals

nearly old aged---> 8 ind.

middle aged -------> 12 ind.

youngs --------------> 76 ind.

Total no. of ind. = 100

So, the ratio is = 76 youngs: 24 adults

CONCLUSION--> rapidly growing population age structure

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If the ratio were.. (young: adult)

ex.2 --> 64:36( normal age structure)

ex.3 -->48:52 (poor production of ageing)

ex.4.-->24:76 ( very poor age structure)

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I have found some results to get the answer

http://in.answers.yahoo.com/search/searc...

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Here is an example ( But in so details)

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultrane...