What characterizes exponential growth in populations?

Exponential growth in populations is characterized by growth that becomes increasingly rapid over time. This pattern occurs when resources are abundant and environmental conditions allow for rapid reproduction. In the early stages, the population grows slowly, but as the number of individuals increases, the growth rate accelerates. This is because each new individual can reproduce, leading to an exponential increase in the total population size.

As the population continues to grow, each generation produces more offspring, and the growth curve becomes steeper. This concept is often depicted graphically as a J-shaped curve, where the population size increases dramatically as it progresses. It’s important to recognize that exponential growth cannot continue indefinitely in a real-world context due to limitations such as resource availability and environmental resistance, but during the exponential phase, the rapidity of growth is a defining characteristic.