AP Environmental Science / Unit 3: Populations
3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability
Notes
- Exponential growth (J-curve) with unlimited resources.
- Logistic growth (S-curve) levels off at K.
- Density-dependent factors (food, disease) and density-independent factors (weather) limit growth.
Practice
An S-shaped curve shows:
Levels off at K.
A drought affecting a population regardless of size is:
Not tied to density.
Rule of 70: a population growing 2% per year doubles in about:
$70\div2$.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 3 test.