How does logistic growth occur?

Question

Luke Alvarez · Accepted Answer

Logistic growth of population occurs when the rate of its growth is proportional to the product of the population and the difference between the population and its carrying capacity #M#, i.e.,

#{dP}/{dt}=kP(M-P)#, where #k# is a constant,

with initial population #P(0)=P_0#.

As you can see above, the population grows faster as the population gets larger; however, as the population gets closer to its carrying capacity #M#, the growth slows down.

by separating variables and integrating,

#Rightarrow int 1/{P(M-P)}dP=int kdt#

by Partial Fraction Decomposition,

#Rightarrow 1/M int(1/P+1/{M-P})dP=int kdt#

by multiplying by #M#,

#Rightarrow int(1/P+1/{M-P})dP=int kMdt#

#Rightarrow ln|P|-ln|M-P|=kMt+C_1#

#Rightarrow ln|P/{M-P}|=kMt+C_1#

#Rightarrow |P/{M-P}|=e^{kMt+C_1}=e^{kMt}cdot e^{C_1}#

#Rightarrow P/{M-P}=pm e^{C_1}e^{kMt}=Ce^{kMt}#

Since #P(0)=P_0#,

#P_0/{M-P_0}=Ce^{kM(0)}=C#

So, the equation becomes

#P/{M-P}=P_0/{M-P_0}e^{kMt}#

by solving for #P#, we have the logistic equation

#Rightarrow P(t)=M/{1+(M/P_0-1)e^{-kMt}}#.

I hope that this was helpful.

Emilia Aguilar · Answer

undefined Logistic growth occurs when a population's growth rate decreases as the population reaches carrying capacity. Initially, in an environment with ample resources, the population grows exponentially. As the population nears the carrying capacity, competition for resources increases, leading to a decrease in the growth rate. Eventually, the population stabilizes near the carrying capacity, exhibiting a sigmoid (S-shaped) growth curve. This pattern is characteristic of many natural populations and is described by the logistic growth model.