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: Disturbance = Death

Assumptions are made to be violated, part 2:
Hurricanes, earthquakes, and other acts of god.

Your insurance company knows that acts of god can wreak havoc with the best-laid plans. Likewise, disasters (known demurely as “disturbances” in ecology-speak) will not be good for a population.

Let's say I use a can of raid on the pesky houseflies and kill 95% of them. I know from experience that their population will recover... In the applet below, you can decide when the disturbance should occur, and watch the dynamics unfold: