Musk Oxen are protected in Alaska. The rule of 70 states that if you divide 70 b
ID: 1955212 • Letter: M
Question
Musk Oxen are protected in Alaska. The rule of 70 states that if you divide 70 by the annual percentage increase of a population, the population will double in the resulting years. For example, a population increase of 7% per year results in a doubling in 10 years. Suppose the oxen population in Alaska is free of hunters and other predators and is increasing at a rate of 23.33% per year. (Oxen cows sometimes twin but most have single births and are known to be prolific breeders.) If you started with 100 oxen, what would the population be after three years? After six years? Suppose the carrying capacity of the ecosystem was 500 oxen -- what would happen to the Musk Oxen population after the six year period? The American Zoo Association uses the acknowledged "Minimal Viable Population" for maintaining a mammalian genetic diversity (500 individuals). Why was this value of 500 established? What might happen if wolves continue to be present? WHY?Explanation / Answer
70/23.33 = 3.00042863 (3 years doubling time)
Population(total) = Population(initial) x (2^(x/3)); x is time in years
100 x 2^(3/3) = 200
100 x 2^(6/3) = 400
After 6 years the population will approach the critical population (500). As a result, the annual percentage increase of a population will drop.
The value of 500 was established to limit population growth to a managable level.
For the last part, is the question asking what would happen if wolves were present from the get go, or if wolves are introduced after 6 years?
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