Population Ecology

Question

The growth rate for a population of 90 field mice in six

months was 429%. If the number of births was 342, the

number of deaths was 43, and there was no emigration,

calculate the number of mice that migrated into the field.

Answer 1

So Matthew G.,

First, calculate the "theoretical mice"; boost 90 by 429% (don't forget, the 90 is already "100%". You need additional 429%!). Round to an integer!!

Then total up the actual mice: 90 initial, 342 births (+), 43 deaths (-). That gives the actual present count; any not there that "theoreticaly" should be, migrated. Probably a better term would be, dispersed, since they already were present in that field!

[Must be a liberal biologist counting; a conservative one would have been much more concerned with illegal mouse immigration, which isn't even mentioned?]

-- Cheers, --Mr. d.