Question

What does it mean to say all organisms are identical in the assumptions for the exponential growth model? Does that mean both males and females can reproduce?

Answer 1

The population size increases over time depending on the availability of food and resources, weather conditions, predation, disease and competition among species. The exponential model of growth however considers that there is no competition among the species for growth and survival. According to the exponential model of growth there is constant availability of food and resources, a stable environment, and no disease and completion with other species.

The assumptions of the exponential model are that, all organisms are identical irrespective of their age, there is continuous reproduction irrespective of seasonality, and environment is constant and there is unlimited access to the resources.

According to the exponential model of growth every individual organisms reproduces two offspring each year. Hence, the population keeps on increasing each year. This cause an increase in the population size despite of the availability of resources and environment conditions, habitat. All organisms birth and death rate is the same each year.All the organisms reproduce at the same rate and reproduce same number of offspring each year irrespective of their age structure therefore they are called as identical.

For example- A female fruit fly which has access to food supply reproduces 2 offspring each year. A female elephant having access to adequate food supply and resources may produce two offspring each year. Then if one of these two offspring is a female then she may reproduce another two offspring and so on.