Question

Study the graph given below and answer the question that follows:

(i) The curve 'b' is described by the following equation :

`"dN"/"dt" = "r""N" {"K-N"/"K"}`
What does 'K' stand for in this equation? Mention its significance.

(ii) Which one of the two curves is considered a more realistic one for most of the animal populations?

(iii) Which curve would depict the population of a species of deer if there are no predators in the habitat? Why is it so?

Answer 1

(i) 'K' stands for Carrying capacity. Carrying capacity represents the maximum population size an environment can support.

(ii) Curve 'b' represents the more realistic curve for an animal population. It is called the logistic growth model.

(iii) Curve 'a' would depict the population of a species of deer if there are no predators in the habitat. In the absence of predators, the population of deer would grow enormously in a short duration of time.