Final answer:
If the death rate exceeds the birth rate in a population, the population size will decrease. Population dynamics are complex and can show various growth patterns, including exponential or logistic growth, often influenced by environmental factors and resource availability.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the death rate of a population exceeds the birth rate, the population will decrease in size. This is because the overall number of individuals declines as more individuals die than are being born. It is important to consider that population growth rate is influenced by not just birth and death rates, but also by immigration and emigration.
For a population to grow, the birth rate must be higher than the death rate, leading to a net increase in the population size. Conversely, when death rates are higher, a net decrease occurs. If the birth and death rates are equal, then the population size will remain static, showing no growth or decline.
Factors like available resources, environmental conditions, and carrying capacity can further influence the dynamics of population growth, leading to patterns such as exponential or logistic growth. In scenarios where resources become limited, the population may reach a carrying capacity where growth levels off to zero, indicating logistic growth.