What do 'a' and 'b' represent in the following population growth curve? [figure]
- ‘a’ represents exponential growth when resources are not limiting the growth; and ‘b’ represents logistic growth when resources are limiting the growth.
- ‘a’ represents logistic growth when resources are not limiting the growth; ‘b’ represents exponential growth when resources are limiting the growth.
- ‘a’ represents carrying capacity and ‘b’ shows logistic growth when resources are limiting the growth.
- ‘a’ represents exponential growth when resources are not limiting the growth and ‘b’ shows carrying capacity.
Answer
(1) ‘a’ represents exponential growth when resources are not limiting the growth; and ‘b’ represents logistic growth when resources are limiting the growth.
Solution
Curve ‘a’ follows dNdt = rN: a J-shaped curve showing exponential growth when resources (food and space) are unlimited.
Curve ‘b’ follows dNdt = rN ( K-NK ): a sigmoid curve showing logistic (Verhulst–Pearl) growth when resources are limiting; it levels off at the carrying capacity K (dashed line).
Answer: (1)