1. Which variable has the largest
effect on population size?
• Volume of space available is the
limiting factor
– Volume of 1200 cm3
= population size of
600
– Volume of 800 cm3
= 400 milkweed bugs
– Volume of 400 cm3
= 200 milkweed bugs
• Other factors only altered the first
2 – 4 months and time it took for
population to stabilize

2. Which of the variables
are biotic? Abiotic?
• BioticBiotic
– Number ofNumber of
femalesfemales
– Clutch frequencyClutch frequency
– Clutch sizeClutch size
• AbioticAbiotic
– Volume (space)Volume (space)
• SurvivalSurvival
– AbioticAbiotic
(temperature,(temperature,
lack of water)lack of water)
– BioticBiotic
(predation)(predation)

3. How does each
variable act as
a population
limiting
factor?

4. • Volume limits number of bugs that can
live in a given space
• Females per 100 changes the number
of adults that can reproduce
• Clutch frequency changes how often
bugs reproduce
• Eggs per clutch changes the number of
offspring that can later reproduce
• Survival rate changes number of
offspring reaching maturity

5. Reflection pg 52Reflection pg 52
The limiting factor in
Milkweed Bugs, Limited
was VOLUME OF SPACE.
Explain if you think this is
an important factor in
determining reproductive
potential of an organism in
the wild.

6. Reflection pg 52Reflection pg 52
The limiting factor in
Milkweed Bugs, Limited
was VOLUME OF SPACE.
Explain if you think this is
an important factor in
determining reproductive
potential of an organism in
the wild.