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Population Growth: Experimental Models Using Duckweed (Lemna spp.)

Experiment 1, "Dynamics of population growth: exponential and logistic growth" examines continuous population growth by growing duckweeds (Lemna spp.)

Experiment 2, "Resource limitation and population growth" examines the conditions that result in maximum population growth of Lemna by manipulating the resources that limit growth including nutrients, light, and surface area.

Experiment 3, "Population growth and resource competition in Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza", studies the population growth and competition of two species of floating aquatic plants.
In Part A the growth of lab populations of Lemna minor and Sprirodela polyrhiza grown alone and in mixed cultures are monitored.
In Part B the magnitude of interaction is explored by growing monocultures and mixed cultures under conditions of two nutrient concentrations and two levels of light intensity.
Associated files
Format
Primary or BEN resource type
Discipline Specific Core Concepts
Life science discipline (subject)
Keywords population growth; competition; limiting resource; growth rate; growth curve; carrying capacity
Key taxa Lemna; duckweed; Lemna minor; Spirodela polyrhiza; Spirodela
Audience
Intended End User Role
Language
Educational Language
Pedagogical Use Category
Pedagogical Use Description This laboratory exercise has three experiments - 1) Dynamics of population growth: exponential and logistic growth 2) Resource limitation and population growth and 3) Population growth and resource competition in Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza.

In these experiments students will understand the dynamics of exponential and logistic growth, investigate the effects of resource limitation on population growth, investigate the outcome of competition between two species of aquatic plants in the same and in different environments, determine relative growth rates, plot data to obtain population growth curves, and determine carrying capacity under different environmental conditions.
Aggregation Level
Structure
Full Name of Primary Author R. L. Jefferies
Primary Author Controlled Name
Primary Author Affiliation University of Toronto
Siena College
Primary Author email robert.jefferies@utoronto.ca
Secondary Author Name(s) Andrea Washington
Added By Id
  • educationintern
Rights Ecological Society of America's copyright restrictions
License
Publisher
Review type
Drought and Water Ecosystem Services Collection Off
Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection Off
Big Data Collection Off
Editors Choice No
Resource Status
Date Of Record Submission 2002-02-05
I Agree to EcoEdDL's Copyright Policy & Terms of Use No
Date Of Record Release 2010-02-16 01:50:51
Last Modified By Id
  • tmourad
Date Last Modified 2014-10-14 08:23:25
Release Flag Published

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