To find the population growth for the herd of water buffalo, we need to analyze the net change in population considering the birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration figures provided.
The formula to calculate population growth is:
[tex]\[ \text{Population Growth} = (\text{Birth Rate} + \text{Immigration}) - (\text{Death Rate} + \text{Emigration}) \][/tex]
Given the data:
- Birth rate = 35
- Death rate = 7
- Immigration = 4
- Emigration = 17
We can substitute these values into the formula:
1. Calculate the total contributions to the population:
[tex]\[ \text{Total Increase} = \text{Birth Rate} + \text{Immigration} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Total Increase} = 35 + 4 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Total Increase} = 39 \][/tex]
2. Calculate the total reductions from the population:
[tex]\[ \text{Total Decrease} = \text{Death Rate} + \text{Emigration} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Total Decrease} = 7 + 17 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Total Decrease} = 24 \][/tex]
3. Determine the net population growth:
[tex]\[ \text{Population Growth} = \text{Total Increase} - \text{Total Decrease} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Population Growth} = 39 - 24 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Population Growth} = 15 \][/tex]
The net population growth is 15, which means the population increases by 15.
Therefore, among the given options, the correct answer is:
Population increases by 15.
