If in a pond there were 20 lotus plants last year and through reproduction 8 new plants are added, taking the current population to 28, the birth rate is:

0.4 offspring per lotus per year

The correct answer is Option (4) → 0.4

The birth rate in a population is a measure of the rate at which new individuals are added to the population through reproduction. It indicates the reproductive capacity and potential growth of the population. To calculate the birth rate, we consider the increase in numbers with respect to the total members of the population.

There are 20 lotus plants in a pond. 8 new plants were added through reproduction. The population increased to 28 lotus we can calculate the birth rate as follows:

Birth Rate =8 /20 = 0.4 new plants per lotus plant per year.