A J-shaped growth curve is converted to an S-shaped one ____.
A) when the parents are past-reproductive age
B) if the data is plotted in reverse
C) when the carrying capacity is reached
D) if reproduction is stopped
E) only for fast-growing populations such as bacteria

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A J-shaped growth curve represents exponential growth, which occurs when resources are unlimited. However, in real ecosystems, resources are finite, leading to a carrying capacity—the maximum population size that the environment can sustain. When a population reaches its carrying capacity, the growth rate slows down, and the curve becomes S-shaped, or logistic, indicating a balance between population size and resource availability.

A J-Shaped Growth Curve Is Converted to an S-Shaped One