Lecture 9: Logistic Growth & Carrying Capacity

Question 1

Exponential Growth = Density-Independent assumes…

Answer 1

• constant per-capita birth & death rates
• no immigration or emigration
• unlimited resources

Question 2

Gause’s Paramecium (Competitive Exclusion Principle)

Answer 2

• 2 sets of protists in test tubes –> pops stabilized @ diff carrying capacities based on resources
• two species cannot coexist indefinitely if they are limited by the same resources
• P. aurelia is superior to P. caudatum

Question 3

Inflection Point

Answer 3

point of fastest growth after which growth begins to slow

Question 4

Ecologically, how does K “kick in” to slow growth?

Answer 4

limited resources cause more deaths or fewer births