Question

Describe the rate of population growth that would be expected at various parts of the S-shaped curve of logistic growth.

Short answer

The rate of population growth in the three stages of logistic growth curve are slow growth rate, exponential growth rate, and stabilizing growth rate.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

The leveling off of the exponential growth due to limited resource availability is known as logistic growth. The logistic growth curve of a population is usually a S-shaped curve with different phases which are as follows-

1. Initiation/birth phase

2. Acceleration/growth phase

3. Maturation phase

4. Stabilizing phase

Step 2. Explanation

In the first and second phase of the growth (initiation and acceleration phase), the few individuals of a species present show exponential growth due to the presence of abundant amount of resources and shows the J-shaped curve similar to exponential growth curve. In the third phase (maturation phase), as the species depletes its resources, growth slows. In the fourth phase (stabilizing phase), finally the population reaches the environment's carrying capacity (K) and remains reasonably stable throughout time.