J-shaped Growth Form

The J-shaped growth form describes a population that increases rapidly and almost exponentially, driven by its full biotic potential, before stopping abruptly — not by gradually levelling off, but by an sudden halt caused by environmental resistance or the sudden onset of a limiting factor such as the end of a favourable season or the exhaustion of a resource. This pattern is classically shown by many insect populations, which explode in number through the rainy season when conditions are favourable, only to disappear rapidly once the season ends and conditions turn …