[Campbell Biology P.1247] Consider a bat population following the logistic growth model with ... | Practice Question

Consider a bat population following the logistic growth model with a carrying capacity K of 1,500 individuals and an intrinsic rate of increase r of 1.0. If the current population size N is 1,400 individuals, which of the following statements best describes the impact of the K-N /K term on the per capita population growth rate?

  • A: The term (K-N)/K would be close to 1, causing the per capita growth rate to be almost equal to r, similar to exponential growth.
  • B: The term (K-N)/K would be close to 0, significantly reducing the per capita growth rate to a small fraction of r.
  • C: The term (K-N)/K would be exactly 0, causing the population to stop growing immediately.
  • D: The term (K-N)/K would have no impact on the per capita growth rate, which would remain r.

Explanation

When N is 1,400 and K is 1,500, the term K-N /K becomes 1500-1400 /1500 = 100/1500 = 1/15, or approximately 0.067. This value is close to 0, which, according to the text, means 'the per capita population growth rate is small,' being a small fraction of r.