Question

Which is correctly labelled with respect to the given diagram?

• A. B : Logistic curve
• B. C : Carrying capacity
• C. C : Exponential curve
• D. A : Carrying capacity

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

C : Exponential curve

In exponential growth, a population's per capita (per individual) growth rate stays the same regardless of population size, making the population grow faster and faster as it gets larger. Exponential growth is not a very sustainable state of affairs, since it depends on infinite amounts of resources (which tend not to exist in the real world). Exponential growth may happen for a while, if there are few individuals and many resources. But when the number of individuals gets large enough, resources start to get used up, slowing the growth rate. Eventually, the growth rate will plateau, or level off, making an S-shaped curve. The population size at which it levels off, which represents the maximum population size a particular environment can support, is called the carrying capacity, or KK.

So the correct option is 'C: Exponential curve'.