Question

A population of 20 squirrels, with 10 males and 10 females, colonizes a new area with no predators and enough plant species to support a squirrel population of 200 individuals. Each year, a female produces 2 offspring, one male and one female, that survive to reproduce. Within the first 2 years in the new area, the growth curve for this squirrel population will show:

A. logistic growth because the squirrel population will reach maximum population size immediately after colonization.B. logistic growth because there is a carrying capacity in the newly colonized area.C. exponential growth because only a few individuals will have offspring.D. exponential growth because the colonizing population size is far below the carrying capacity.

Answer 1

The squirrel population will show exponential growth in the first 2 years due to low initial population size and abundant resources, before the growth slows down as it nears the carrying capacity, transitioning into logistic growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The growth curve for a squirrel population within the first 2 years in a new area with no predators and abundant resources will show exponential growth due to the initial conditions of the environment. In such a situation, every female squirrel is producing two offspring each year, and the initial population of 20 squirrels is far below the carrying capacity of 200 individuals. Therefore, the population will grow rapidly without any immediate limits on resources or reproductive capacity.

Limited resources and environmental factors typically lead to a logistic growth pattern over time. However, since the current population size is significantly lower than the carrying capacity, exponential growth will occur first. Once the population size gets closer to the carrying capacity, growth rates will slow down, and the population will enter the logistic phase, ultimately leveling off when they reach carrying capacity.

Answer 2

Option D

Step-by-step explanation:

The growth curve for this squirrel population will show exponential growth; (constant multiple in each generation and with unlimited resource availability) because the colonizing population size after the first two years estimated at still being less than 100 is still far below the carrying capacity of 200 individuals.