Modeling Population Growth (Ideal vs. Logistic Model)

This activity provides instructions to construct a mathematical model on a blank spreadsheet that simulates population growth using an ideal model and a logistic model. The activity provides background discussion and then gives instructions on how to program a spreadsheet to produce and display the ideal and logistic population models. Their results are studied for various cases including human population, rabbits, polar bears, bacterial and yeast colonies.

This quantitative population model is a good honors or AP activitiy that can be completed by students alone or in small groups in a computer lab and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Incorporates spreadsheets and quantitative modeling into the Biology or Environmental Science curriculum.