Which of the following is true about logistic growth compared to exponential growth?

Study for the DAT High Yield Biology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Logistic growth is characterized by the concept of carrying capacity, which refers to the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support over time. This type of growth starts off exponentially when resources are abundant but slows down as the population approaches the carrying capacity due to limitations in resources such as food, space, and other critical factors. This creates a sigmoidal growth curve, where the growth rate decreases as the population size approaches its environmental limits.

In contrast, exponential growth continues at an increasing rate without any environmental constraints, which is often unrealistic in natural populations over long periods due to eventual resource limitations. Therefore, while exponential growth can occur in ideal conditions, logistic growth provides a more realistic model for population dynamics over extended periods, as it integrates environmental carrying capacity and the effects of resource limitations.

The other options do not accurately convey the relationship between logistic and exponential growth. For instance, logistic growth does not occur at a constant rate; it initially grows rapidly, slows down, and stabilizes, making it different from exponential growth. Additionally, exponential growth is not more common in nature; instead, many populations tend to show logistic growth patterns due to environmental limitations. Lastly, logistic growth explicitly includes resource limitations, which distinguishes it from exponential growth models that do not

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