Under the influence of these and related questions the population ecologists have begun
to develop a form of organizational demography. Numerous research studies are attempting
to identify species or populations (typically defined as sets of organizations sharing certain
characteristics or a common fate with regard to environmental circumstances) and the birth
rates, death rates, and general factors influencing organizational life cycles, growth, and
decline. Considerable attention has also been devoted to understanding organizations and
their environments in terms of “resource dependencies” and the patterning and availability of
resource niches.