What is the difference between exponential and logistic growth?

Exponential growth is continuous and unrestricted, while logistic growth is limited by environmental factors.

Exponential growth refers to a population that increases at a rate proportional to its current size. This means that the larger the population gets, the faster it grows. This type of growth is often seen in populations where there are few or no limitations on growth, such as a lack of predators or an abundance of resources. It is represented by a J-shaped curve on a graph, where the population size increases rapidly and without limit.

On the other hand, logistic growth takes into account the limitations that an environment may place on a population. These limitations, or carrying capacity, can include factors such as food availability, space, and disease. As a population approaches its carrying capacity, its growth rate slows down, eventually stabilising when the population size reaches the carrying capacity. This type of growth is represented by an S-shaped curve on a graph, where the population size increases rapidly at first, then slows down as it approaches its carrying capacity, and finally stabilises.

In reality, most populations experience a combination of both types of growth. They may start with exponential growth when there are few limitations, but as they increase in size, environmental factors start to limit their growth, leading to logistic growth. Understanding these two types of growth is crucial in fields such as ecology and conservation, as it helps scientists predict how populations will change over time and how they may respond to changes in their environment.