Table of Contents

• The mystery
• 1. Introduction
• 2. The mystery
• 3. Exponential growth
• 4. Population dynamics
• 5. Exponential growth equation
• 6. You write the equation
• 7. Applet: Exp. growth
• 8. Summary of exp. growth
• 9. Assumptions about exp. growth
• 10. Applet: Once more with mortality
• 11. ...and an equation
• The plot thickens
• 12. Examining assumptions
• 13. Assumptions get violated
• 14. Carrying capacity...
• 15....mathematically expressed
• 16. Logistic growth
• 17. Applet: ... among elephants
• 18. Applet: ... among mice
• 19. Applet: ... among gypsy moths
• 20. Detour: chaotic dynamics
• 21. Applet: Seasonal changes
• 22. Applet: Disturbance = Death
• The case is cracked
• 23. You be the detective
• 24. Just the facts ma'am

Applet: Exponential growth

You should end up with something that looks like this: fliest = fliest-1*2 fliest=1 = 3 month #flies Jan 3 Feb 6 Mar 12 April 24 May 48 June 96 July 192 August 384 Sept 768 Oct 1532 Nov 3064 Dec 6128

 

The applet below allows you to investigate the exponential growth process further. The line that is already on the applet is the solution to the starting-with-3-flies, 2-eggs-per-fly-per-month problem above. You can change the growth rate (by moving the slider).

What happens to dynamics as the growth rate increases?

What if the growth rate is BELOW 0? In other words, if the population is experiencing negative growth?