The logistic population growth is expressed by the equation

The logistic population growth is expressed by the equation
  1. $d t / d N=N r\left(\frac{K-N}{K}\right)$
  2. $d N / d t=r N\left(\frac{K-N}{K}\right)$
  3. $d N / d t=r N$
  4. $d N / d t=r N\left(\frac{N-K}{N}\right)$

Solution

A population growing in a habitat with limited resources show initially a lag phase, followed by phases of acceleration and deceleration and finally an asymptote, when the population density reaches the carrying capacity. A plot of $\mathrm{N}$ (population density at time $t$ ) in relation to time (t) results in sigmoid curve. This type of population grown is called Verhulst-Pearl Logistic Growth and is describes by the following equation : $d N / d t=r N\left(\frac{K-N}{K}\right)$ where, $N=$ Population density at time $t$, $r=$ Intrinsic rate of natural increase $K$ = Carrying capacity Since resources for growth for most animal populations are finite and become limiting soner or later, the logistic growth model is considered a more realistic one.

Asked in: NEET 2011 (Mains)

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