Question

a demographer creates a graph of the global human population from the year 1000 to the present. he notices that for much of history, the population increased slowly, but in recent centuries, the rate of increase has become much more rapid, with no clear sign of slowing down as a result of environmental limits. based on this pattern, which of the following growth models does human population growth most closely resemble?
j - shaped growth curve
disruptive growth
a carrying capacity which has been reached
logistic growth

Explanation:

• J - shaped growth curve: In a J - shaped growth curve, the population grows exponentially without any significant slowdown due to environmental limits for a long time. This matches the description where the population increase was slow for much of history but became rapid with no clear sign of slowing (before environmental limits were considered in the question context).
• Logistic growth: Logistic growth has a phase where growth slows as it approaches the carrying capacity. But the question states there was no clear sign of slowing (before considering the later part about environmental limits which is not in line with the initial rapid growth without slowdown as in logistic before reaching carrying capacity).
• Carrying capacity which has been reached: If carrying capacity was reached, growth would slow or stop, but the question says there was no clear sign of slowing in the rapid growth phase.
• Disruptive growth: This is not a standard population - growth model term in the context of basic population - growth curve discussions.

Answer:

J - shaped growth curve