Lab 5 Population Ecology What type of growth would you expec

Lab 5: Population Ecology What type of growth would you expect under the following situations? A species of lizards that was introduced onto a small island, establish itself and came to equilibrium. Rabbits arc introduced to Australia and became a nuisance. Bacteria grown on a Petri dish, then transferred to increasingly larger dishes. Mice in a small cage are given extra food, but not a larger cage, generation after generation.

Solution

A) species of lizard that was introduced onto an island establish itself and come to equilibrium ;

D) Mice in a small cage are given extra food but not a larger cage generation after generation ;

This kind of growth can be called as the logistic or restricted growth where the growth accelerates for some time growing at an exponential rate and eventually becomes slow and comes to equilibrium, forming an S shaped curve. There is a rate limiting factor which restricts the growth unlike exponential growth.

Initially the mice would grow exponentially until the space would be completely occupied. The mice would also have a restricted growth as the limiting factor here would be the space for surviving thus resulting in competition.

B) Rabbits are introduced to Australia and become a nuisance

D) Bacteria grown on a pet riding and then transferred to increasingly larger dish.

The kind of growth observed here is also known as the J curve. This is also called the exponential growth phase where, due to no limitations of growth the population continues to grow exponentially. This kind of growth is also known as the unrestricted growth. The growth continues in this manner as there is no limiting factor .

Since bacteria would be transferred to another plate with larger area, thus more nutrient medium and more area to grow, the bacteria would continue to grow as the limiting factors of toxic waste accumulation and nutrient limitation is surpassed.