Living Graph: Explore Population Growth

This graph depicts population growth of organisms with discrete and overlapping generations. It employs the geometric growth equation for populations with discrete generations and the exponential equation for populations with overlapping generations.

  1. Examine the effect of the reproductive rate on the pattern of growth of the two organisms. Hold the initial population size constant and vary the reproductive rate.
  2. Examine the effect of the initial population size on the pattern of growth of the two populations. Hold the reproductive rate constant and vary the initial population size.

Range of Time (T):

Initial Population

Reproductive Rate #1

Initial Population #2

Reproductive Rate #2

Update Graph Reset Page

To compare two populations over the same Time (T), please enter values above. Click the items in the legend to hide or display the corresponding plotted points. Explore the plotted points by hovering over them with your cursor; you can zoom in on a section of the graph by clicking and dragging. When zoomed-in, you may explore the timeline by dragging the scroll bar at the top of the graph. Reset the graph by clicking "Show all".

The graph plots population size from 0 to 20,000, versus time from 0 to 10. Discrete generation population: 4, 0; 8, 1500; 10, 4000. Overlapping generation population: 4, 0; 8, 2700; 10, 21,000. All values are estimated.