Question

pop. growth: growth curves
use what you learnt to these questions about population growth curves.

1. define the term \carrying capacity\.

the maximum population size of a species that a given environment can sustain indefinitely, limited by factors like food, water
shelter, and other resources

1. the graph (right) shows the growth curve of

a population of e. coli - a type of bacterium -
in a period of 6 hours.
a) what type of growth is shown?
b) the e.coli a
what would yo
6 hours? explain
would happen.
optical density
of e.coli
(indicator of
population size)
time (hours)
e. coli
agar is a jelly - like
growth medium
that contains nutrients

Explanation:

Population growth curves are studied in Biology. In Biology, when a population has unlimited resources (like in the early stages of bacteria growth in a nutrient - rich medium), it shows exponential growth. The graph of exponential growth is a J - shaped curve. Here, the E. coli population is growing in a medium (agar) that initially provides sufficient nutrients. As time passes in the graph (up to 6 hours), if there are no limiting factors (like depletion of nutrients, lack of space etc. which are not indicated in the given graph for the 6 - hour period), the population will grow exponentially.

Answer:

A) Exponential growth.