Final answer:
The final population size of paramecia at the end of the fourth hour would depend on the initial population size at the start of that hour and the carrying capacity of the environment. Without the initial population size, a direct calculation is not possible, but the final number will be between 8,000 and 14,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the end of the fourth hour, the total number of paramecia in a colony growing at an intrinsic rate (p) of 100 per 1000 per hour, and facing an environmental resistance with a carrying capacity (K) of 14,000, cannot be precisely calculated with the given information. Typically, the growth rate would reduce as the population nears the carrying capacity due to factors like limited resources and increased competition. To calculate the exact number, we would use the logistic growth model where the formula for calculating the growth is N(t) = K / (1 + [(K - N0)/N0] * e-rt), with N0 being the initial population size, r being the growth rate, t is time, and K is the carrying capacity.
However, since the initial population size at the start of the fourth hour is not provided ('a' above mentioned in the question is missing), a direct calculation is not feasible. If we had started with 8,000 paramecia from the previous hour (as inferred from the provided background information), and if the logistic growth model applies, the actual population will be somewhere between 8,000 and 14,000, depending on the strength of the environmental resistance at the time.