Analyzing Populations

SOLVE 

As part of a long-term elephant study, biologists counted individuals in a population of elephants each spring. In one year, there were 18 males and 34 females. Over the following year, each female gave birth, from which 28 offspring survived. Predators killed 9 elephants. A construction project cleared 50 acres of nearby forested land, causing 5 males and 19 females to immigrate into the study area. Competition for females increased, resulting in the emigration of 10 males to a new territory in search of mates.

Find the growth rate of this population. 

exponential growth-any species that lives in ideal conditions of available resources, space, and other factors will rapidly increase in population size. 

logistic growth, a population begins with a period of slow growth followed by a period of exponential growth before leveling off to a stable size.

Density–dependent factors are factors that are affected by the number of individuals in an area. The larger the population, the greater the effect. 

Density–independent factors are factors that can impact a population regardless of its density.