Lab: Population Growth

1. Lab: Population Growth

2. 10/4 Marking the Text You have received a lab document with an introduction section on it. Follow each of the directions below: • Number each of the paragraphs. • In the text, find and underline the definitions of each of these two bold faced terms: -exponential growth -carrying capacity

3. Paragraph 1 Read Paragraph 1. 1. Highlight the sentence that tells us what limits the size of a population.

4. Paragraph 2 Read Paragraph 2 • Find and highlight the sentence that tells us what a population does when it reaches carrying capacity. • Find and highlight the sentence that tells us an additional factor (besides resources) that can limit the size of a population.

5. Paragraph 3 Read Paragraph 3 • Find and underline the term “competitive exclusion.” • Highlight the sentence that explains what we mean by competitive exclusion.

6. Paragraph 4 Read Paragraph 4 Find and highlight the sentence that tells us what happens in nature when there is competition for resources between two species of organisms, but one can use another resource.

7. Purpose • In this lab you will examine data from a simulated lab where two species of Paramecia are grown alone and together. • You will record data and compare growth curves for each species alone and grown together.

8. Hypothesis • If Paramecium caudatumis grown alone, then its population will _____________________. • If Paramecium aureliais grown alone, then its population will _____________________. • If Paramecium caudatumand Paramecium aureliaare grown together, then the Paramecium caudatumpopulation will _____________________ and the Paramecium aurelia population will _________________________________.

9. Graphing Your Results • You will create 3 graphs. • 1 for the P. caudatum data • 1 for the P. aurelia data • 1 for the mixed P. caudatum and P. aurelia data Your Graphs Must Be: • Titled • Labeled with the variables • Use correct intervals for the variables