Final answer:
The population curve of garlic mustard, an invasive species, would likely start with exponential growth, characterized by an accelerating increase in size. Over time, as resources become limited and carrying capacity is reached, this would transition to logistic growth, slowing and leveling off.
Step-by-step explanation:
Population Growth of Garlic Mustard
If we were to diagram the population curve for garlic mustard in a local forest over the next 5 years and 30 years, starting from a small patch, the most likely trend under ideal conditions without intervention would be exponential growth. Exponential growth is characterized by an increase in population size that accelerates in proportion to the number growing; the rate becomes faster as the population increases. For garlic mustard, an invasive species known to spread quickly and outcompete native plants, the initial stage would show a slow increase followed by a rapid growth phase where the population size would significantly rise due to the lack of natural predators and competitors.
However, as time goes on and resources become scarcer or the habitat's carrying capacity is reached, this exponential growth may transition to logistic growth. Logistic growth means the population growth rate slows down and levels off as the population size approaches the maximum number of individuals the environment can sustain. Depending on environmental factors and human intervention such as eradication efforts, the long-term trend could differ significantly. Hence, if unmanaged, garlic mustard would initially display exponential growth (Curve A), but over time, as environmental pressure increases and carrying capacity is approached, the population would exhibit logistic growth (Curve B), potentially stabilizing.