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I need a word for 'animal demography'. I would prefer it a single word but I will accept a phrase if no single-words are available.

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    Zoology. Doesn't 'demography' only apply to human statistics?
    – Joe Dark
    Nov 28, 2014 at 17:49
  • You sure about zoology? That's the study of animals right? Not the study of the population of animals. And yes, demography only applies to humans. That's why I'm asking the question.
    – woff
    Nov 28, 2014 at 17:51
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    @JoeDark No, it is standard use in ecology and evolution with regard to both animals and plants, e.g. as in "demographic population model" or "the population demography of Pied flycatchers". "Animal demography" is perfectly fine with me.
    – fileunderwater
    Nov 28, 2014 at 17:54

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If you consider an uncommon word, there is zoography. It has another sense also but recently, it is being used as animal demography.

n. Now rare. L16. [f. ZOO- + -GRAPHY.] Description of animals; descriptive zoology.

Latterly esp. a survey of animal populations (cf. DEMOGRAPHY). L16.

http://www.seadict.com/en/en/zoography

Demo (in demography) is from Greek demos "people".
Zoo (in zoography) is from Greek zoion "animal".

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  • One word is preferred. Thanks for the answers though.
    – woff
    Nov 28, 2014 at 18:10
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    For what it is worth, as an ecologist working with demographic population models, I have heard this word a couple of times, and then with a more general meaning than animal demography. I also doubt that many people working with animal demography will label their work as zoography. But whether "zoography" is suitabe maybe depends on who you are writing for.
    – fileunderwater
    Nov 28, 2014 at 19:42
  • @ermanen Sure, feel free if you think that it improves the answer.
    – fileunderwater
    Dec 1, 2014 at 11:28
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Demography is a standard term in ecology and evolution with regard to both animals and plants, so "Animal demography" is perfectly fine to use. Examples of use could be "demographic population model" or "the population demography of Pied flycatchers". You can also see examples by e.g. looking at text book titles at amazon. At the moment, I cannot think of a one-word substitute though.

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Demography in the strictest sense refers to characteristics of people. Demo- means the people! But, the term is used generically with both animal and plant populations.

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