Osprey Nest Population Growth Prediction
What was the osprey nest population in New Jersey before the release of DDT?
Before the pesticide, DDT, was released into the environment, the number of osprey nests along NJ's coast line was about 500.
How did the osprey population change after the state banned DDT?
There were 50 nests by 1974 when the state put the bird on the endangered species list. After banning DDT and creating artificial nesting sites, the state's osprey population grew to 486 nests in 2009 and 542 nests by 2013.
What was the predicted osprey nest population in 2015 based on the 2009-2013 growth rate?
At the 2009-2013 growth rate of 10%, what will the osprey nest population be in 2015? a.) 588 nests b.) 596 nests c.) 656 nests d.) 674 nests e.) 700 nests
Final answer: Using the 10% growth rate from 2009-2013, the estimated osprey nest population in 2015 would be about 656 nests.
Osprey Nest Population Growth Prediction
To calculate the osprey nest population in 2015, we'll apply the mentioned growth rate of 10% in 2009 to the 2013 population of 542 nests. This is a problem involving exponential growth, where we add a certain percentage to our value each year.
Using the formula for exponential growth (final = initial * (1+rate))^time), we can calculate:
final = 542 nests * (1+10%)^2 = 542 nests * 1.1^2 = 542 nests * 1.21 = 656.02 nests. Since we can't have a fraction of a nest, we round down, resulting in about 656 nests in 2015.
Explanation of Osprey Nest Population Growth Prediction
The osprey nest population in New Jersey faced a decline due to the release of the pesticide DDT, which resulted in only 50 nests by 1974. Recognizing the endangered status of the species, the state took action by banning DDT and implementing measures such as creating artificial nesting sites to support osprey population recovery.
With the successful restoration efforts, the osprey nest population gradually increased to 542 nests by 2013. By applying a growth rate of 10% from 2009 to 2013, we can predict that the osprey nest population would reach approximately 656 nests in 2015.
This projection showcases the positive impact of conservation efforts and highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and conservation initiatives to ensure the continued growth and stability of the osprey population in New Jersey.