Which term refers to a rapid population increase caused by an abundance of resources?

• A. Exponential growth
• B. Logistic growth
• C. Plateau
• D. Carrying capacity

Answer: (A)

When resources are abundant, a population can grow very fast because births can outpace deaths and there are few limits on growth. This rapid, size-dependent increase is called exponential growth, where the per-capita growth rate stays roughly constant and the total population rises in a J-shaped curve. In natural systems, exponential growth is typically temporary, fading as resources become limiting and density-dependent factors slow the increase. By comparison, logistic growth describes that slow-down as a population nears carrying capacity, plateau refers to a leveling-off, and carrying capacity is the maximum population the environment can sustain long term. So the term that best matches rapid increase due to plentiful resources is exponential growth.