Population Models with Excel

1. List the standards that this lab addresses: 2.D.1:c and 4.A.5: c.1-4
2. What are the equations for exponential and logistic growth?
3. In a real population, there are two factors that determine population growth: birth rate and
death rate. In your exponential model, where were these factors incorporated when
calculating your new population number?
4. In your exponential model, you should have a population change over 20 years and then one
over 100 years. There should also be a graph to represent each.
Set the r value to .05 for both populations, then save the document.
Upload the document into Google Drive.
Finally, pull up the document on the ipad and take a screenshot of the page to be used
for your portfolio.
a. How do the graphs compare to each other? Explain the differences you see in terms of
effect of time to population growth.
5. Using graphs and data from the exponential model, explain how the population and graph
changes when the r value changes (include increase, decrease, and 0 growth.
6. Can the population in the exponential graph continue to grow like that forever? Explain
7. What value is introduced in the logistic model? What is the impact on the population number
based on your graph and data chart?
8. In your logistic model, you should have a population change over 20 years and then one over
100 years. There should also be a graph to represent each.
Set the r value to .1 for both populations, then save the document.
Upload the document into Google Drive.
Finally, pull up the document on the ipad and take a screenshot of the page to be used
for your portfolio.
a. With a set rate of growth, how does the change in carrying capacity effect the shape of
the graph over time?
9. Using graph and data from the logistic model, explain how the population and graph changes
when the r value changes (include increase, decrease, and 0) and the K value changes (large
and small).
10. In a paragraph, reflection on the assignment:
What was the purpose of the activity?
Explain what you learned about population growth models and how it relates to the
standards. Include what factors can influence population number and the definition of a
population.
What material are you still struggling with or need to review more?
What aspect of this topic would you like to study further and/or what did you enjoy the
most in this assignment?

2)

3) in the rate (Rmax)

4) the graphs are the same except for the 100 years graph is over a
longer period of time so it appears to increase slower.

5) if the r value increases then the graph will have a steeper slope.
If the r value decreases then the graph will have a slower slope. If
there is 0 growth then the graph will be a flat horizontal line.

6) in a perfect world, yes. The population of an exponential graph

can grow forever.

7)the carrying capacity. It stops the growth based on the amount of

space and resources available.

8) a change in carrying capacity would change how far the graph

could reach before it leveled out. A higher capacity would make the
graph taller. A lower capacity would shorten the graph.

9) when r is a decrease, the population shrinks and the graph looks

inverted. When r is an increase, the population grows and the
graph increases. K determines when the graph levels out because
it has reached the maximum population possible.

10) this activity was designed to show us how a population rate

aects the number of individuals in a species in a given area at a
given time. I learned the formulas for the exponential and logistic
graphs. I had only known the dierent graphs and how they looked,
not how to calculate them. I need to review the dierence between
k-selected and r-selected species. What I enjoyed most in this
assignment was using the excel spreadsheet in order to work the
equations.