Question

What is the per capita birth rate for a population of 1000 deer with a yearly birth rate of 100 young and a yearly death rate of 90 individuals?

A. 100
B. 1010
C. 0.09
D. 0.9
E. 0.1

Answer 1

The per capita birth rate for the population of 1000 deer is 0.9. This value represents the average contribution of each deer to population growth, considering a yearly birth rate of 100 young and a yearly death rate of 90 individuals. Thus the correct option is D. 0.9.

Step-by-step explanation:

The per capita birth rate is calculated by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate and then dividing the result by the population size. In this scenario, the yearly birth rate is 100, the yearly death rate is 90, and the population is 1000 deer.

`\[Per\ capita\ birth\ rate = \left((Birth\ rate - Death\ rate)/(Population\ size)\right)\]`

`\[= \left((100 - 90)/(1000)\right)\]`

`\[= \left((10)/(1000)\right)\]`

`\[= 0.01\]`

So, the per capita birth rate is 0.01. However, this value is usually expressed as a decimal, so we move the decimal two places to the right:

`\[0.01 = 0.1\]`

The correct answer is 0.1, which corresponds to option D.

In summary, the per capita birth rate for this population of deer is 0.1. This means that, on average, each deer contributes 0.1 offspring to the population. The calculation takes into account both the birth and death rates, providing a measure of the population's growth adjusted for mortality. It's crucial to understand and interpret these rates accurately to manage wildlife populations effectively and sustainably.

Thus the correct option is D. 0.9.