Question

logistic growth occurs whenever a populations size approaches its carrying capacity and is limited by resource availability. which of these populations is most likely experiencing logistic growth? a wolf population that has been established in an area for decades, with a stable but limited prey population a herd of elephants that is excessively hunted by humans and is losing habitat to increasing farmland a population of vernal pool fairy shrimp that grows rapidly during the wet season and then sharply declines during the dry season submit

Explanation:

To determine which population is experiencing logistic growth, we analyze each option:

1. The wolf population has been established for decades with a stable but limited prey population. Logistic growth occurs when a population approaches carrying capacity (limited by resources, here prey). This fits as the wolf population is likely limited by prey availability, approaching its carrying capacity.
2. The elephant herd is declining due to hunting and habitat loss, which is not logistic growth (logistic growth is S - shaped, approaching carrying capacity, not declining due to external pressures reducing population).
3. The fairy shrimp population has rapid growth then sharp decline due to seasonal changes (wet - dry), not due to approaching a stable carrying capacity limited by resources in a logistic growth sense (more like boom - bust due to environmental conditions, not resource - limited growth towards carrying capacity).

Answer:

a wolf population that has been established in an area for decades, with a stable but limited prey population