Logistic growth Knowledge-Based Practice

Questions

1. 1.

   Which ecological mechanism causes a population following a logistic growth pattern to transition from the rapid exponential growth phase into the deceleration phase?

   • A) A continuous increase in the intrinsic rate of increase driven by cooperative social behaviors
   • B) The complete elimination of density-independent abiotic factors that regulate juvenile survival
   • C) A progressive increase in the carrying capacity of the habitat as population density rises
   • D) The intensification of density-dependent limiting factors, such as intraspecific competition for finite resources
2. 2.

   In the logistic growth equation $\frac{dN}{dt} = rN\left(\frac{K - N}{K}\right)$, what biological condition does the term $\frac{K - N}{K}$ represent?

   • A) The intrinsic rate of increase under ideal, unconstrained environmental conditions
   • B) The fraction of the carrying capacity that remains available for population growth
   • C) The absolute carrying capacity of the environment for the population
   • D) The realized per capita rate of population growth at that specific population size
3. 3.

   According to the logistic population growth model, what occurs to the population growth rate ($dN/dt$) when the population size ($N$) exceeds the carrying capacity ($K$)?

   • A) It increases exponentially because the higher number of breeding adults accelerates reproduction.
   • B) It remains at zero, stabilizing the population permanently at the elevated density.
   • C) It becomes negative, causing the population size to decline back toward the carrying capacity.
   • D) It reaches its maximum positive value due to the full utilization of environmental resources.
4. 4.

   In the logistic model of population growth, how does the per capita growth rate, $\frac{1}{N}\frac{dN}{dt}$, change as the population size ($N$) increases toward the carrying capacity ($K$)?

   • A) It declines linearly to zero as the population size approaches the carrying capacity.
   • B) It increases steadily until the population size reaches the carrying capacity.
   • C) It reaches its maximum value when the population size is half of the carrying capacity.
   • D) It remains constant at the intrinsic rate of increase regardless of population density.
5. 5.

   Under the logistic growth model, at which population size (N) does a population achieve its maximum absolute population growth rate (dN/dt)?

   • A) When the population size is equal to half of the carrying capacity (K/2)
   • B) When the population size reaches the environmental carrying capacity (K)
   • C) When the population size approaches zero and resources are completely unutilized
   • D) When the population size exceeds the carrying capacity and enters negative feedback

Answers and step-by-step solutions appear after you finish the test.