Population Growth Rates of Various Key Species Are Important to Understand

Essay

Population growth rates of various key species are important to understand, as large growth rates of any one species can easily affect the natural resources within an ecosystem. Assume that a population of 200 exotic parrots (all of the same species) accidentally escaped from a Miami zoo during a recent hurricane. After intense efforts, 215 are recaptured one year later. Calculate the population growth rate of this parrot species, and based on this growth rate, explain how long it would have taken for this population to double in size, if they had not been recaptured.