The unicellular green alga Chlorella is often used as a model organism to study the effects of various substances on the growth of photosynthetic organisms. Researchers studying the detoxification of certain metals by Chlorella first collected data on the growth dynamics of the alga. A small number of Chlorella were added to 1,500 mL of culture medium that contained all of the inorganic nutrients needed for growth. Every five days for 30 days, the researchers performed multiple counts to determine the concentration of Chlorella in the culture (Table 1). Table 1. The growth dynamics of a culture of Chlorella over a period of 30 days Days Since Inoculation Concentration of Chlorella (x10 per mL) 0.01 (0.005) 0.08 (0.01) 10 0.55 (0.1) 15 1.9 (0.2) 20 2.8 (0.4) 25 3.2 (0.25) 3.2 (0.3) +2SE, values are shown in parentheses.
based on the data, describe the time period during which chlorella approximates exponential growth. based on the data and assuming logistic growth, describe the time period during which the chlorella population has reached the carrying capacity of the culture. based on the data, calculate the growth rate per day for the 5-day period with the greatest growth rate.