Depends on whether your document's field is microbiology and "population" commonly refers to lethal viruses that we want eradicated, or it is sociology and popu

Depends on whether your document's field is microbiology and "population" commonly refers to lethal viruses that we want eradicated, or it is sociology and population specifically refers to humans. Which is exactly the parent's point. Don't assume words mean the exact same thing from one field to another.