Ecology : Age Structure and Population Growth - Assignment Example

Ecology: Age Structure and Population Growth Q1 Age structures of Australia and Mexico Australia Mexico Q2 Country 1Country 2Country Name AustraliaMexicoWhere is this country?Island continent south of Pacific Ocean North AmericaWhat type of country is this? (Rich, poor, at war, etc.)RichRichPopulation size this year (No)22,751,000121,737,000Growth rate r (per capita rate of increase) /yr. Report as a % value 1.11.2Crude Birth Rate (Births/1000 population/year)1219Crude Death Rate (Deaths/1000 population/year)75Life Expectancy at birth (years)8276Net migration rate (migrants per 1,000 population)6-2 Doubling (or halving) time (ln(2)/r)63.0157.76Projections for the future: (calculate using Nt= Noe^rt)(calculate using Nt= Noe^rt)15 years t=1522,751,000e^(0.011x15)= 26,832,373121,737,000e^(0.012x15)= 145,745,65025 years t=2522,751,000e^(0.011x25)= 29,952,389121,737,000e^(0.012x25)= 164,327,76250 years t=5022,751,000e^(0.011x50)= 39,433,239121,737,000e^(0.012x50)= 221,819,276100 years t=10022,751,000e^(0.011x100)= 68,347,781121,737,000e^(0.012x100)= 404,181,074Q3 Birth Rate Birth rate is slightly higher in Mexico comparing to the birth rate statistics in Australia, the birth rates in the two countries links to the level of economic growth in both nations.

Countries with a vast population living in poverty tend to record large numbers of births because of the belief that children are a form of wealth. Death Rate Mortality rate in Mexico is slightly small comparing to that for Australia. Mexico is since recording low mortality rates because of the government focus on investing in public health measures. The government provides better nutrition, proper access to medical facilities and continual country word immunization. Australia records slightly higher death rates compared to Mexico, but the figures are a good indication.

The government has invested well in medical facilities, and the living standards are continually going up. Behavioral change is also a contributor to low death cases in Australia. Population Growth Rate It is dependent on both birth rate and death rate. In Mexico, the population growth is dependent on the high rates of births and reduced rates of death. Migration to USA also plays a role in population statistics. Australian population is due to the high growth in economic developments that invites the foreigners who are seeking employment opportunities and overseas students.Q4. In Australia majority of the population, are those aged between 20 to 50 years while Mexico the majorities are those aged between 0 to 20 years.

The population of males and females are equal for the two countries. In Australia, there are a good number of people above 80 years while Mexico the number fall from above 65 years; this relates to slightly low life expectancy in Mexico. Mexico has a systematic pyramid while Australia has an asymmetrical pyramid bulging at the center. The Australian pyramid show majority of the population between the age of 20 and 50 years this can be due to large numbers of immigrants from other countries seeking higher education, business and employment opportunities.

Q5 The Australian age structure projected for the next 15 years (2030) show a more asymmetrical structure. Majority of the projected population are people aged between 15 years to 70 years. The asymmetry is due to larger numbers of foreigners seeking for job employments, and higher learning is continually going high. The rise in economic development increases job creation and so invites more aliens who are seeking for work opportunities. Improvement in living standards and behavioral change in Australia contributes to the reduction in the number of deaths cases for youths and people in the middle age.

Government increased awareness of chronic diseases also contributes to the reduction of mortality rates. The Australian population records small statistics for ages below 15 years because of the low birth rates. Aging population characterizes the higher statistics above 70 years because of continued rise in life expectancy. Q6 The population projections are likely to be true in the next years. The projections show an increase in population, which links to, drop in death rates, improvement in medical facilities, and more hands joining to eradicate poverty, technological advancements, and immigration.

Increased population is a case when the number of births exceeds the number of deaths. In both Mexico and Australia, the governments are focusing on medical awareness that aims at reducing mortality rates. Innovations, technological advancements, and increased industrialization are boosters of economy that results in population growth, as the governments’ capacity to feed its people is enhanced. Technological progress also improves the medical facilities. Many people from the developing countries continually move to Australia in search of higher learning and employment.

Q7 AustraliaIncreased r by 0.01r= 1.11Decreased r by 0.01r= 1.09Population estimate for 50 years from now22,751,000e^(0.0111x50)= 39,630,89922,751,000e^(0.0109x50)= 39,236,565 ReferenceUnited States Census Bureau. International Program, International Data Base. U.S. Department of Commerce. 2013. Retrieved on March 16, 2015 from http://www.census.gov/population/international