Population Dynamics

1. Populations can experience exponential growth as long as resources are plentiful, but this growth slows as the carrying capacity is approached. The carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can sustain. 2. Bacterial populations in a culture and red kite populations reintroduced to the UK initially grew exponentially but then slowed as negative feedback and limited resources approached the carrying capacity. 3. The logistic growth model incorporates a carrying capacity component that slows population growth at a certain point, producing an S-shaped curve similar to observed population growth patterns.