Question

What is true of exponential growth? Select all that apply.

a. It produces an S-shaped curve when plotted over time.
b. It can be seen in nature when a population arrives in a new area without natural enemies.
c. It occurs when competition, disease, and predation are high.
d. It occurs when r ≤ 0.
e. A population's resources must be unlimited for it to occur.

Answer 1

Exponential growth refers to a rapid increase in population under ideal conditions with unlimited resources, forming a J-shaped curve. It does not occur in high competition or when growth rate r is ≤ 0, and is not represented by an S-shaped curve, which instead indicates logistic growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

Exponential growth happens under ideal conditions with unlimited resources, producing a J-shaped curve. It can be seen in nature, such as when a population colonizes a new area lacking natural enemies. This type of growth is characterized by each generation roughly doubling in size, leading to a rapid increase in the population. However, in reality, exponential growth is often temporary because resources are not truly unlimited.

Certainly, populations cannot grow exponentially indefinitely. Real-world conditions involve limited resources, and once these begin to deplete, the population growth rate decreases. This transition from exponential to slower growth due to resource limitation is represented by a logistical growth model, illustrated by an S-shaped curve. Exponential growth is not observed when competition, disease, and predation are high, nor does it occur when the intrinsic growth rate (r) is less than or equal to zero.