Madison Lindsay

Biology 1120:Conservation Biology

Instructor: Kristen Taylor

Bell Pepper Population Growth

While conducting my initial bell pepper research I discovered that my pepper
contained one hundred and fifty-seven seeds. This discovery means that as the first
generation bell pepper in my graph, the five-year growth begins with just one hundred
and fifty seven seeds. As I continued to calculate out each year of population growth for
the bell pepper, I came to the conclusion that after five years of growth my single bell
pepper had created five generations of peppers, which gave me my total number of
953,889,925,57. A number so large I needed to simply represent it numerically rather than
with words! I am incredibly surprised at how fast my single bell pepper took off. Its
growth pattern was rather rapid within the first two years of conception, and continued to
grow as if on a mission to feed the world. I am very surprised with the population
turnover that began with a single pepper and on hundred and fifty-seven seeds.
If a natural element or even man made element was introduced to this population,
it could potentially be a detriment to its survival and it would drastically change the
outcome of this single pepper population. If one single pepper became infected with a
debilitating bacterium, it could strangle the chance of any survival for itself and any
future generations. Bacterium is not the only limiting factor this pepper population needs
to look out for. There are many factors that could inherently change the course of life and
growth. Environmental factors that could change the course of an entire pepper

population could be as simple as a lack of sunlight and natural nutrients or other

resources necessary for life. It could also be a pesticide, a chemical spray or even a
tainted or diluted water source. A plant population would also need to worry about
predators, looking gain sustenance from their growth. Global warming, climate change
and increased natural disasters would affect any population growth tremendously, not just
a plant population.
The affects of global warming alone on this particular plant population would
cause major deterioration of the generations over time. When subjected to rising land and
water temperatures, climates ultimately change which could decrease the water supply
this population could receive over time. If the natural temperatures in a climate continued
to rise over time, the plant species would struggle and would no longer be capable of
adapting to the change in climate and this could affect the reproduction rate which would
cause the plant species to become more limited. Changes in climate can alter the timing
of plant activity and it would ultimately have a domino affect on the plant population
bringing it to a halt.
When in a prime state for growth, the plant population is able to take off and
reproduce at a rapid rate. However, something as simple as sunlight or a change in
temperatures over the climate would have a major impact on the future of the plant
population. The numbers certainly would not turn over as high from generation to
generation, but would most likely have a steady rate of growth for a period of time and
then drastically decline as the plants ability to adapt to the changes would fail.

In my graph below it shows when a plant species is subjected to an optimal

climate and is growing in prime conditions, it has the ability to substantially grow and
reproduce and a high population rate.