Question

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the growth of populations?

A) Limiting factors such as available food, water, space, and other resources limit the growth of populations and cause them to level off.
B) Populations can actually grow exponentially forever on Earth.
C) Predator-prey relationships help maintain the carrying capacity of species.
D) Exponential growth is called a "J" curve and increases indefinitely, but logistic growth is called an "S" curve and levels off at the carrying capacity.

Answer 1

The false statement regarding the growth of populations is that populations can grow exponentially forever on Earth. This is incorrect as exponential growth is limited by resources and other factors, leading to logistic growth and a leveling off at the carrying capacity of the environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct response to the question of which statement regarding the growth of populations is FALSE is option B) Populations can actually grow exponentially forever on Earth. This statement is false because in the real world, with limited resources, exponential growth cannot continue indefinitely. Growth is in fact confined by limiting factors such as food, water, space, and others, which lead to logistic growth rather than exponential. The population will eventually level off, reaching what is known as the carrying capacity of the environment. The carrying capacity is the largest population that can be supported by the available resources without causing harm to the environment.

Predator-prey relationships and limiting factors such as available food, water, and space prevent populations from growing exponentially indefinitely. The pattern of logistic growth is described by an S-shaped curve that levels off as the population reaches the carrying capacity of its habitat.