Two different organisms were studied in a carrying capacity study. One was a paramecium population that grew in a flask in a laboratory environment that spanned a period of 15 days. The other was a bear population in a forest that spanned a period of one hundred years. Both populations grew exponentially for a short period of time until they both reached an equilibrium and population growth remained stable due to limiting factors. How might their numbers compare when studied?

Paramecium- 0 days/ 50 paramecium

5 days/400 paramecium

10 days/ 900 paramecium

15 days/ 860 paramecium

Bear- 0 days/ 2 bears

20 years/ 26 bears

40 years/ 230 bears

60 years/ 250 bears

80 years/ 248 bears

100 years/ 252 bears

Explanation:

The population of the paramecium will keep on increasing until an equilibrium is reached. The resources will become limited and hence, the paramecium will start competition for the limited resources. As a result, the population of the paramecium will decline rapidly after equilibrium.

The growth rate of bear is very less as compared to that of paramecium growth rate. Along with the growth rate, there are other factors which will be responsible for its numbers such as resources, hunters etc. Also, it uses sexual method of reproduction hence the growth rate will not be like the paramecium growth rate.