Population Growth and Carrying Capacity

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What contributed to the decrease in death rate, leading to exponential growth of the human population?

Improvement in medical technology

Rise in global temperatures

Increase in food availability

Improved sanitation and living conditions (correct)

What is the primary reason for the slowing down of population growth in countries like the United States, Japan, and much of Europe?

Environmental factors such as pollution

Low immigration rates

High emigration rates

Low birth rates and high death rates (correct)

What is a necessary condition for exponential growth of the human population?

Birth rate exceeds death rate (correct)

Birth rate equals death rate

Emigration rate exceeds immigration rate

Death rate exceeds birth rate

What is the main concern regarding the exponential growth of the human population?

The resources on Earth are limited and may not be able to support the growing population Signup and view all the answers

What is the study of human populations referred to as?

Demography Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the growth rate as the population reaches the carrying capacity?

It slows down Signup and view all the answers

What is an assumption made by both the exponential and logistic models?

The carrying capacity is constant and does not fluctuate Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a limiting factor?

Drought and other climate extremes Signup and view all the answers

What is a density-dependent limiting factor?

A factor that only limits population growth when the population density reaches a certain level Signup and view all the answers

Why are the exponential and logistic models not accurate representations of real populations?

Because they do not account for environmental changes Signup and view all the answers

What is the condition necessary for a population to grow exponentially?

Ideal conditions with unlimited resources Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the population growth rate as resources become scarce?

It slows or stops Signup and view all the answers

What shape is the graph of exponential growth?

J-shaped curve Signup and view all the answers

What is a limiting factor in population growth?

A factor that restrains the growth of a population Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the competition between members of a population as it grows exponentially?

It increases Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the population size is small?

Birth rates are high and death rates are low, causing the population to grow nearly exponentially. Signup and view all the answers

What is the carrying capacity of the environment?

The number of individuals the environment can support over a long period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the population exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment?

Many members of the population die or starve, causing the population size to drop below the carrying capacity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the shape of a logistic growth graph?

A stretched out letter 'S' Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the population is at the carrying capacity?

Birth rates equal death rates, and growth stops. Signup and view all the answers