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B.when.,b5: Growth

This document discusses exponential population growth using the example of a Streptococcus bacterium population. It shows the bacterium population doubling every hour over a 10 hour period, following an exponential curve. While populations can grow exponentially when resources are unlimited, in reality all populations face environmental resistance which limits unchecked growth. As populations get larger, competition for resources increases, diseases spread more easily, and populations become more vulnerable to predators, limiting overall growth.

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Muh Haidir
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40 views

B.when.,b5: Growth

This document discusses exponential population growth using the example of a Streptococcus bacterium population. It shows the bacterium population doubling every hour over a 10 hour period, following an exponential curve. While populations can grow exponentially when resources are unlimited, in reality all populations face environmental resistance which limits unchecked growth. As populations get larger, competition for resources increases, diseases spread more easily, and populations become more vulnerable to predators, limiting overall growth.

Uploaded by

Muh Haidir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Exponential population growth ' Figure 7'3

a. Streptococcus bacterium in the process of dividing-


Time (hourt) Number ot bact
0 1
,t 4
2 10.
,3 64
4 256
5 : 1,024
6 4;0$6
? 16,s84
' B. 05;836
I 262"144
10 1,048;576

b.when.,b5 l$e.:,al,a
:,.:r.:1i'.l.rr:.:.:.ri.i'inl ..ji
nunb€rrihe{e,i$ ;;*$!,l rit'ta} :

1,100
1,000
.g 900
.Ea Boo
HE 7oo
:E 600
3e soo
8E 4oo
zEg 204
soo

100
0
0123

CNRI/Science Photo Librarylscience Source

population growth for a short period' Horar


exponential population growth (Figure 7'3)' exponential
orsanisms don't reprcduce indefinitely
When a population grows exponentialiy, the population growth evet
larger the popuiation gets, the faster it grows' The accelerating at their biotic potentials because the envi-
Regardless of species, whenever a population
population growth ronment sets limits, which are collectively
grows at its biotic potential, population size
that occurs when called envirorlmental resistance. Examples o{
optimal condilions
environmental resistance include such unfavor-
plotted versus time gives the same J-shaped allow a constant
able environmental conditions as limited food,
curve. The only variable is time' It may take reproductive rate.
water, shelter, and other essential resources {re-
longer for a dolphin population than for a
bacterial population to reach a certain size (tlecause sulting in increased competition), as well as increased dir
dolphins do not reproduce as rapidly as bacteria), but ease and predation.

both populations will always increase exponentially as Using the earlier example, we find that bacteria never
long as their growth rates remain corrstanl reproduce unchecked for an indefinite period because
they run out of food and living space, and poisonous body
wastes accumulate in their vicinity. With crowding, bacte-
Environmental Resistance ria become more susceptible to parasites (high population
and Carrying CaPacitY densities facilitate the spread of infectious orgarrisms such
as vinrses among individuals) and predators (higtr popuia-
Certain populations-particularly those of bacteria, pro-
tists, and certain insects-may exhibit exponential tion densities increase the likelihood cf apredator catching

162 CHAPTER 7 Human Population Change and the Environment

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