Given below are two statements: Statement I: When a new habitat is just being colonized, natality contributes more significantly to population growth than immigration. Statement II: The population density of a given habitat will decrease if the sum of mortality and emigration exceeds the sum of natality and immigration. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given be

Step-by-step solution

Statement I is incorrect because when a new habitat is just being colonized, immigration contributes more significantly to population growth than natality (birth rates). Statement II is correct because the population density at time t+1 is given by the equation N_ t+1 = N_t + [(B + I) - (D + E)] , where B is natality, I is immigration, D is mortality, and E is emigration. If the sum of mortality and emigration (D + E) exceeds the sum of natality and immigration (B + I) , the term in the bracket becomes negative, an