Problem:
Answer all the questions:
Question 1: Describe this equation and what does it mean? When it would be used by an ecologist?
dN/dt = rN
Question 2: Describe this equation and what does it mean? When it would be used by an ecologist?
dN/dt = r N (1 - N/K)
Question 3: Describe this equation and what does it mean? When would it be used by an ecologist?
Nt = No ert
Question 4: Distinguish between exponential and logistic population growth. Give the equations for each.
Question 5: What is carrying capacity? Why do populations fluctuate around some estimated value
of K?
Question 6: A population of Spotted Fritillary butterflies exhibits logistic growth. If the carrying
capacity is 500 butterflies and r = 0.1 individuals/(individuals x month), what is the maximum population growth rate for the population?
What you need to know: maximum population growth rate occurs when N = K/2).
In the question you're given the following information:
K = 500, r = 0.1, maximum population growth at K/2.
What formula would you use to calculate the answer, from the formulae supplied above?
Show the pedigree and your calculation.