Question

Explain why a population that fits the logistic growth model increases more rapidly at intermediate size than at relatively small and large sizes.

Short answer

A population that fits the logistic growth model increases more quickly at intermediate size because relatively few individuals create offspring when population size is small. However, the carrying capacity and per capita growth rate are low in large population sizes due to limited available resources.

Step-by-step solution

Logistic growth model

Logistic model of population determines that the population grows more slowly as it nears its carrying capacity (K),the maximum population size the environment can support.

It explains that every individual inside a population will have equal access to resources and equal survival chances.

Logistic growth curve

The steepest part of the logistic growth curve corresponds to a population with several substantial reproducing individuals but not near carrying capacity. The rapid growth at intermediate size is due to decreasing death rates faster than the birth rate.

The population growth decreases as population size reaches the carrying capacity according to the logistic growth.

Exponential growth

Exponential growth allows for a rise in population size without requiring an increase in population growth rate.In exponential growth, the per capita of a population remains constant regardless of population size.

It will result in rapid population expansion due to the enormous population size. Thus, a population that fits the logistic growth curve will grow exponentially at the intermediate size.