Question

The equation dN/dt = $r_{m}N$, (the law of population growth) given by French mathematician, P.F. Verhulst suggests the rate of increase of population per unit time depends upon

• A. Innate capacity for increase
• B. Population size
• C. Unutilized opportunity for population growth
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

All of the above

Pierre Franois Verhulst was a mathematician and a doctor in number theory from the University of Ghent in 1825. Verhulst published in 1838 the equation,
$\frac{dN}{dt}$ = $rN(1-\frac{N}{K})$
when $N_t$ represents number of individuals at time t, r the intrinsic growth rate and K is the carrying capacity, or the maximum number of individuals that the environment can support.

In a paper published in 1845 he called the solution to this the logistic function, and the equation is now called the logistic equation. This model was rediscovered in 1920 by Raymond Pearl and Lowell Reed, who promoted its use.
Biotic potential refers to the rate at which a population of a given species will increase when there are no limits of any sort on its rate of growth. It is defined by the formula dN/dt = rN where N is the number of individuals in the population, dN/dt is the rate of change of its numbers over time and r is the intrinsic rate of natural increase for the population.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.