NEETZoologyOrganisms and Populations
In the integral form of the exponential growth equation N_t = N₀ e^ rt , what does the parameter ' r ' specifically represent?
Options
- AExtrinsic rate of natural increase
- BEnvironmental carrying capacity
- CIntrinsic rate of population mortality
- DIntrinsic rate of natural increase
Correct answer
D. Intrinsic rate of natural increase
Step-by-step solution
The equation N_t = N₀ e^ rt describes the exponential growth of a population. In this equation, N_t is the population density after time t , N₀ is the population density at time zero, e is the base of natural logarithms, and r is the intrinsic rate of natural increase. The parameter ' r ' is a very important measure for assessing the impacts of any biotic or abiotic factor on population growth. It is not an extrinsic rate, nor does it represent carrying capacity (which is denoted by K ). Answer: Intrinsic rate of n