Names __________________________________________________Period ______ Date___________
Population Size Worksheet
In 1911, 25 reindeer, 4 males and 21 females, were introduced onto St. Paul Island near Alaska. On St.
Paul there were no predators of the reindeer, and no hunting of the reindeer was allowed. Study the
graph on the next page and answer the following questions.
a) In 1911 the population was 25 reindeer. What was the size of the population in 1920?
b) What was the difference in the number of reindeer between 1911 and 1920? Calculate this by
subtracting the initial 1911 population from the eventual 1920 population.
c) What was the average annual increase in the number of reindeer between 1911 and 1920? Calculate
this by dividing the answer from b by the number of years between 1920 and 1911.
d) What was the difference in population size between the years 1920 and 1930?
e) What was the average annual increase in the number of reindeer in the years between 1920 and 1930?
f) What was the average annual increase in the number of reindeer in the years between 1930 and 1938?
g) During which of the three periods 1911-1920, 1920-1930, or 1930-1938, was the increase in the
population of reindeer the greatest?
h) What was the greatest number of reindeer found on St. Paul Island between 1910 and 1950 and in
what year did it occur?
i) In 1950, only 8 reindeer were still alive. What is the average annual decrease in the number of
reindeer in the years between 1938 and 1950? Calculate this by figuring out the number of total reindeer
lost between 1938 and 1950 and divide it by the number years in this period.
j) In your opinion, what do you think caused the population changes on St. Paul Island? (things to know:
St. Paul Island is 200 miles from the mainland, and it only has 41 miles2 of land)
Human Population Graph
1. Using the “Human Population Growth” table, graph the population on the graph provided below.
Place “Date A.D.” on the X-axis. Start with “0” in the corner, then space the dates every 2 lines until
you get to “2010”.
Place “Human Population (millions)” on the Y-axis. Start with “0” in the corner, then count each line as
“250” until you get to the top (it should fit up to about 7000).
Graph the corresponding coordinates until you have finished your graph.
2. Is the human population growing faster? Provide evidence from you graph in your answer.
3. What do you think is causing the change in growth in the human population? Be specific!