We have carried out a polysystem analysis of the population dynamics by using a variety
of hypotheses and their respective models based on different system interpretations of the
phenomenon under investigation. Each of the models supplements standard dynamic equations
for explaining the effects observed. A qualitative model-based analysis is made of the
age-specific male mortality for a Siberian industrial city. The study revealed the
tendencies for background mortality to increase with age and over time, which
characterizes in an integral manner the influence of socio-ecological factors on the
decline in population viability. It is shown that these tendencies are similar for
different years and for different population age groups.