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.