Question

a population of deer on the kaibab plateau exhibits the population growth shown in the graph here. which hypothesis is supported by the data in the graph? select all that apply. a the deer have overpopulated the kaibab plateau. b the food source for the deer has been depleted. c the birth rate equals the death rate in this population. d the deer are currently growing at an exponential capacity. e the deer are affected by density - dependent factors like predation

Explanation:

The graph shows a population that first has slow growth and then rapid (exponential - like) growth. If the deer have overpopulated, we would expect a decline or leveling - off, not continued rapid growth, so A is not supported. If the food source was depleted, the population would not be growing rapidly, so B is not supported. If birth rate equals death rate, there would be no net growth, so C is not supported. The rapid growth part of the graph indicates that the deer are currently growing at an exponential capacity, so D is supported. Density - dependent factors like predation would typically cause the growth to slow down or level off as the population increases, and the graph doesn't show signs of such a slow - down yet, so E is not strongly supported.

Answer:

D. The deer are currently growing at an exponential capacity.