Question

Describe the logistic population growth curve.

Answer 1

The LOGISTIC POPULATION GROWTH CURVE is a Sigmoid (s-shaped) curve that describes various phases in the growth process of a population. The different phases of the curve are :

1- Exponential growth phase in which the species doubles itself in unit time as there are no limiting factors such as nutrition , oxygen and space.It is the fastest phase since birth rate exceeds death rate.

2-Transitional phase in which the population growth continues but at a slower pace. As the limiting factors start to emerge the birth rate starts to decrease while death rate increases.

2-Plateau phase in which population growth slows to zero because the limiting factors inhibits population growth.The nutrition, oxygen and space are in very short supply.The population becomes constant and birth rate and death rate also become equal.

"K" or the carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals in a species that can substantially be supported in an environment.