Ricker Curve

The Ricker curve is a mathematical model used to describe how populations grow over time. It shows that as a population increases, growth rate initially rises but eventually slows down and can decline if it becomes too large. This happens because resources like food and space are limited, so beyond a certain point, competition increases and hinders growth. The curve typically rises sharply, reaches a peak, and then declines, illustrating how populations can stabilize or fluctuate around a certain level depending on environmental conditions. It’s often used in ecology to understand and predict population dynamics.