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Population diversity is the second level in the diversity hierarchy immediately above genetic diversity and below  species diversity.
It is revealed through variation in characteristics among individuals that form the population. The
modular structure of plants that contrasts with the unitary structure of animals and leads to a need
for a clear definition of the plant individuals. Developmental stages and age classes are common
components of structural diversity that should vary in healthy plant populations. Data regarding these
components are gathered with techniques that ensure that the fate and reproduction of each individual
plant is maintained. Techniques such as population viability analysis use measures of the probability
of individuals progressing from one stage or age to another stage or age. When these measures
are obtained under differing management objectives they can be used to project the vulnerability
of the population to management options. Examples are presented that demonstrate the risk of a 
population explosion of a cheatgrass population and the risk of extinction for bluebunch wheatgrass
under two grazing systems. (source: abstract)