population

In this analysis and discussion activity, students develop their understanding of the exponential and logistic population growth models by analyzing the recovery of endangered species and growth of bacterial populations.

Students learn about the processes that cause exponential or logistic population growth, interpret data from several investigations, and apply their understanding to policy questions.

Next, students analyze examples where the trends in population size do not match the predictions of the exponential or logistic population growth models. They learn that models are based on simplifying assumptions and a model’s predictions are only accurate when the simplifying assumptions are true for the population studied.

In the last section, students analyze trends in the number of people on the earth and analyze one of the factors that affect the earth’s carrying capacity for people.

One version of the Student Handout includes mathematical equations, which are omitted from the other version. These versions of the Student Handout will be suitable for most high school students. I have also prepared a simpler Student Handout, which will be suitable for most middle school students.This simpler version is called “Population Growth – Effects of the Environment” (https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/bioactivities/popgr).

First, students analyze a hypothetical example of exponential growth in the number of infected individuals.

Then, a class simulation of the spread of an infectious disease shows a trend that approximates logistic growth.

Next, students analyze examples of exponential and logistic population growth and learn about the biological processes that result in exponential or logistic population growth.

Finally, students analyze how changes in the biotic or abiotic environment can affect population size; these examples illustrate the limitations of the exponential and logistic population growth models.