Cambridge O Level Biology · Syllabus 5090 · Relationships of Organisms with One Another and with the Environment
Population Growth Rate
What is Population Growth Rate?
The speed at which the number of organisms in a population changes, determined by the balance between births and deaths. It is influenced by food supply, competition, predation and disease, and each of these acts through survival or reproduction: more food allows more individuals to survive and reproduce; greater competition, more predators or more disease reduce survival or reproductive success. The factors are not independent, because a population that grows for one reason usually experiences greater competition and often greater predation and disease as a result.
This definition is part of the Relationships of Organisms with One Another and with the Environment chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.