Brooklyn College BIOL 1010 : Investigations

Investigations : Population Growth

Text:  Pages to reference will be given in class.

Web:  Bio-Lab Modules (Population Growth)
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/ahp/SDV2.html

Lab Notes - Population Growth

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Exponential Growth

Theory

This simulation will investigate a very simple situation. A scientist has placed a lot of sterile, liquid nutrients in a flask and then added a small number of bacteria; single celled prokaryotic organism with minimal requirements. These are almost perfect conditions for studying unrestrained growth. The bacteria have plenty of nutrients, vast space (for them!), warm conditions, no predators, and no poisons (such as antibiotics). With no limits, the biotic potential, the capacity for reproduction, is amazing.

The best way to see the effects of such unlimited and unrestricted growth is to use the simulation to give numbers of individual bacteria over a range of time values and then plot the results on a graph. In this way it is possible to examine;

• the shape of the graph
• the effect of growth rate
• the effect of initial population size

Growth Curves

A graph of the increase in numbers of a population over a range of time values is called a growth curve. Growth curves have different shapes, and each shape is typical of a particular set of circumstances or situations.

Assignment:

Under Bio-Laboratory Modules:

--> Click on "Bacterial Growth"

Read the material presented and visit all links.

Follow directions on the investigation handout given to you.

Investigations are due the next scheduled lab period.

Late investigations will NOT be accepted!

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