Question

PART 4: Exploring the Logistic Growth Model

Go to the "Logistic growth model" section and read the introduction.

Summarize the main differences between the exponential and logistic growth models.

Explain what the carrying capacity (K) is in your own words.

Answer 1

Exponential growth models show unlimited population growth, while logistic models incorporate carrying capacity, leading to growth that slows and stabilizes near this maximum sustainable population size. Carrying capacity represents the threshold of resource availability that can sustain a population over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main differences between the exponential and logistic growth models lie in how population size increases over time relative to resources. In an exponential growth model, the population size grows continuously and without limit which is not realistic in nature due to resource constraints. The logistic growth model, on the other hand, includes the concept of carrying capacity (K), which is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely given the available resources. As a population nears its carrying capacity, the growth rate slows down, until the population size stabilizes at or near this capacity.

The carrying capacity (K) is in essence the threshold population size that an environment's resources can support without leading to an ecological collapse. It factors in resources such as food, space, and other necessities for a population. A population's growth starts to slow in the logistic model as it approaches half of the carrying capacity, balancing between growth potential and resource availability.

Answer 2

The exponential growth model is a type of mathematical model that describes how a population grows over time when it is not limited by any external factors. In this model, the rate of growth is constant and the population grows at a steady rate. In contrast, the logistic growth model is a mathematical model that describes how a population grows over time when it is limited by external factors, such as the availability of resources. In this model, the rate of growth decreases as the population reaches its maximum size, or carrying capacity (K).

The carrying capacity (K) is the maximum number of individuals that a particular environment can support. This can be thought of as the upper limit on the population size that a given environment can sustain over time without being degraded or depleted. The carrying capacity is an important concept in ecology and population dynamics, as it helps to determine the long-term sustainability of a population. It can also be used to identify potential limits on the growth of a population and to develop strategies for managing that growth in a sustainable way.

Step-by-step explanation: