The formula for logistic growth rate is shown above. A population of salmon has a carrying capacity of 2500 in a small fishery. What will occur when the population reaches 3000 for the salmon?

Question

A The population will stabilize at 3000.The population will stabilize at 3000.
B The population can never reach 3000 in this case.The population can never reach 3000 in this case.
C The population will grow because the growth rate will be positive.The population will grow because the growth rate will be positive.
D The population will decline because the growth rate will be negative.

Answer 1

D The population will decline because the growth rate will be negative.

Once the population of salmon reaches the carrying capacity of 2500 in the small fishery, the logistic growth rate formula indicates that the growth rate will become negative as the population exceeds the carrying capacity. This means that the population is no longer able to sustain itself at 3000, leading to a decline in population size.