Background: The earliest members of the human species evolved around 200,000 years ago in Africa. Early humans lived in small populations of nomadic hunters and gatherers. Human beings remained in Africa until about 40,000 years ago. After that, they spread throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia. By 10,000 years ago, the first human beings colonized the Americas. During this long period of time, the total number of human beings increased very slowly. Birth rates were fairly high but so were death rates, producing low rates of population growth.

Situation: Bill lives in the country. Over the last few years he has noticed that there are way more feral cats running around than there used to be. In fact he usually sees several litters of kittens each year. On the plus side he has noticed that there are a lot fewer mice getting into things in his barn or getting into his house.

Question: Which population is experiencing growth?

Situation: Bill lives in the country. Over the last few years he has noticed that there are way more feral cats running around than there used to be. In fact he usually sees several litters of kittens each year. On the plus side he has noticed that there are a lot fewer mice getting into things in his barn or getting into his house.

Question: Which population is experiencing a decline?

Situation: Bill lives in the country. Over the last few years he has noticed that there are way more feral cats running around than there used to be. In fact he usually sees several litters of kittens each year. On the plus side he has noticed that there are a lot fewer mice getting into things in his barn or getting into his house.

Question: Which population is experiencing more births than deaths?

Situation: Bill lives in the country. Over the last few years he has noticed that there are way more feral cats running around than there used to be. In fact he usually sees several litters of kittens each year. On the plus side he has noticed that there are a lot fewer mice getting into things in his barn or getting into his house.

Question: Which population is experiencing less deaths than births?

Situation: Bill lives in the country. Over the last few years he has noticed that there are way more feral cats running around than there used to be. In fact he usually sees several litters of kittens each year. On the plus side he has noticed that there are a lot fewer mice getting into things in his barn or getting into his house.

Question: Which population is experiencing more deaths than births?

Situation: Bill lives in the country. Over the last few years he has noticed that there are way more feral cats running around than there used to be. In fact he usually sees several litters of kittens each year. On the plus side he has noticed that there are a lot fewer mice getting into things in his barn or getting into his house.

Question: Will the mice population increase or decrease as the cat population increases?

Situation: Bill lives in the country. Over the last few years he has noticed that there are way more feral cats running around than there used to be. In fact he usually sees several litters of kittens each year. On the plus side he has noticed that there are a lot fewer mice getting into things in his barn or getting into his house.

Question: Will the mice population increase or decrease if the cat poulation decreases?

Situation: Bob lived in an area that was known for its wildlife including deer. Once there had been larger predictors like wolves and mountain lions but they had been extinct in this area for decades. Now the other animals like deer had no natural predators.

Question: Is the deer populatin increasing or decreasing?

Situation: Bob lived in an area that was known for its wildlife including deer. Once there had been larger predictors like wolves and mountain lions but they had been extinct in this area since the last century. Now the other animals like deer had no natural predators.

Question: Was the higher or lower in the last century?

Situation: Bob lived in an area that was known for its wildlife including deer. Once there had been larger predictors like wolves and mountain lions but they had been extinct in this area since the last century. Now the other animals like deer had no natural predators.

Question: Was the higher or lower in this century?

Situation: Bob lived in an area that was known for its wildlife including deer. Once there had been larger predictors like wolves and mountain lions but they had been extinct in this area since the last century. Now the other animals like deer had no natural predators.

Question: In what century did more deer die?

Situation: Bob lived in an area that was known for its wildlife including deer. Once there had been larger predictors like wolves and mountain lions but they had been extinct in this area since the last century. Now the other animals like deer had no natural predators.

Question: In what century did the deer population increase this century or last century??

Situation: Bob lived in an area that was known for its wildlife including deer. Once there had been larger predictors like wolves and mountain lions but they had been extinct in this area since the last century. Now the other animals like deer had no natural predators.

Question: In what century was the deer population stable this century or last century??