A population of white-tailed deer at stone Mountain reproduces one time each yea
ID: 168630 • Letter: A
Question
A population of white-tailed deer at stone Mountain reproduces one time each year in the early spring. At the last census in 2014, the population was 58 individuals. You conduct another census in 2015 and discover that the population is now 68 individuals. Predict what the population size should be in 2016 if there are no density dependent factors constraining population growth. After considering the size of the mountain, you think that food may eventually limit population growth. You therefore decide to estimate how large the carrying capacity might be for the population at Kennesaw Mountain. Using the data in part (a) estimate how many deer the mountain can support?Explanation / Answer
(a) populatin size in 2014= 58
population size in 2015= 68
intrinsic rate of increase(r)=?
to calculate this, lets use the equation of exponential growth= Nt = No ert where, Nt is population at time t, No is initial population, r for year 2015 will be
68= 58 x er(1) [time period(2014-15= 1yr]
ln 68- ln 58 = er [by taking natural log]
r= 0.15
by using the same formula, we can calculate population for year 2016,
Nt for 2016 would be= 68 x e(0.15)(1) = 79 individuals
(b) to calculate carrying capacity for given condition, we will use the formula of logistic growth
Pt+1 - Pt = rPt (1- Pt/K) Where, K is carrying capacity
Population in 2016- population in 2015= intrinsic rate of increase x population in 2015( 1- population in 2015/ K)
by putting the calculated values, we will get
79-68= 0.15 x 68 (1- 68/K)
K= 867 individuals.
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