Dynamic Equilibrium
Dynamic equilibrium describes the stable state of a population when birth rates equal death rates, meaning the population size remains relatively constant even though individual organisms continue to be born and die. In Amplify Science (California) Grade 7, Chapter 1: Stability and Change in Populations, students learn to identify when a population is in dynamic equilibrium versus growing or declining.
Key Concepts
A population is considered stable when its size remains relatively constant over time. This does not mean the population is frozen; organisms are still dying and being born.
Stability occurs when the number of births equals the number of deaths. This state is known as dynamic equilibrium .
Common Questions
What is dynamic equilibrium in a population?
Dynamic equilibrium is when a population stays relatively constant in size because births and deaths are occurring at equal rates. The population is active and changing at the individual level, but stable at the group level.
How is population stability different from a population being frozen?
A stable population is not frozen—organisms are still being born and dying. Stability simply means the rate of births equals the rate of deaths, so the total number stays roughly the same over time.
When does a population grow or decline?
A population grows when births exceed deaths and declines when deaths exceed births. Dynamic equilibrium exists only when births and deaths are balanced.
Where is dynamic equilibrium taught in Amplify Science Grade 7?
Dynamic equilibrium in populations is covered in Amplify Science (California) Grade 7, Chapter 1: Stability and Change in Populations.