Question

Study the population growth curves in the graph given below and answer the questions that follow:

(i) Identify the growth curves ‘a’ and ‘b’. 

(ii) Which one of them is considered a more realistic one and why?

(iii) If dN/dt = rN(K-N/K)  is the equation of the logistic growth curve, what does K stand for?

(iv) What is symbolised by N?

Answer 1

(i) a is exponential growth curve or J-shaped . b is logistic growth curve or S-shaped. 

(ii) Logistic growth curve 

(b) is considered more realistic one because unlimited resources are not available in an ecosystem or in a habitat. 

(iii) K stands for carrying capacity. 

(iv) N indicates population density.