Lesson 24: Population Growth

Question 1

The regular fluctuations in animal population size is called what?

Answer 1

Population cycles

Question 2

How do you calculate the per capita birth (or death) rate?

Answer 2

=# of births (or deaths) over a time period/population

Question 3

How do you calculate the per capita increase?

Answer 3

=Per capita birth rate - Per capita death rate

Question 4

How do you calculate the Population Growth Rate

Answer 4

=r*N

–where r=per capita rate of increase, and N=size of population

Question 5

Yes/No: Can the carrying capacity be specific for a given species or a given population?

Answer 5

NO, because carrying capacity varies in time and space. It cannot be specific because it is always changing

Question 6

What does density independent mean in relation to population growth?

Answer 6

Theoretical populations do not compete and are allowed to independently grow exponentially

Question 7

What are the geometrical and arithmetical increases Thomas Malthus spoke of?

Answer 7

Population increase exponentially (geometrically), while resources increase linearly (arithmetically)