You’re studying 2 different populations of the same bacteria in the lab; both in the same unlimited, ideal conditions. Population-A starts with 2,000 individuals, while Population-B starts with 20,000 individuals. Assuming both populations grow exponentially, which population will have a higher population growth rate & why?

• A. Population-A because it has fewer individuals & therefore has more space to grow.
• B. Population-A because populations in ideal environments have a higher growth rate when N is smaller.
• C. Population-B because it can utilize resources more efficiently.
• D. Population-B because with exponential growth, larger populations have a higher growth rate.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of exponential growth: In exponential growth, the rate of growth is proportional to the current population size. This means that as the population size increases, the growth rate also increases.
2. Identify the initial conditions: Population-A starts with 2,000 individuals, and Population-B starts with 20,000 individuals. Both populations are in unlimited, ideal conditions, which means they can grow without any resource limitations.
3. Apply the exponential growth model: The exponential growth model can be described by the equation \( N(t) = N_0 e^{rt} \), where \( N(t) \) is the population size at time \( t \), \( N_0 \) is the initial population size, \( r \) is the growth rate, and \( e \) is the base of the natural logarithm.
4. Compare the growth rates: Since the growth rate \( r \) is the same for both populations in ideal conditions, the population with the larger initial size (Population-B) will have a higher absolute growth rate because \( rN_0 \) is larger for Population-B.
5. Conclude based on the exponential growth principle: Therefore, Population-B will have a higher population growth rate because, with exponential growth, larger populations have a higher growth rate due to the larger initial number of individuals.