If most individuals in a population are young, why is the population likely to grow rapidly in the future? a. Death rates will be low. b. The population has a skewed age distribution. c. Immigration and emigration can be ignored. d. Many individuals will begin to reproduce soon.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the question. The question is asking why a population with a majority of young individuals is likely to grow rapidly in the future.
2. Step 2: Analyze the options. Option a suggests that death rates will be low. This is a possibility, as younger individuals are generally healthier and less likely to die. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the population will grow rapidly.
3. Step 3: Consider option b. This option suggests that the population has a skewed age distribution. While this is true, it doesn't explain why the population would grow rapidly.
4. Step 4: Look at option c. This option suggests that immigration and emigration can be ignored. This is not necessarily true, as these factors can significantly impact population growth.
5. Step 5: Finally, consider option d. This option suggests that many individuals will begin to reproduce soon. This is the most likely reason why a population with a majority of young individuals would grow rapidly. Young individuals are at or nearing their reproductive age, and as they begin to reproduce, they will add more individuals to the population, causing it to grow rapidly.

Key Concepts

Age Structure

Age structure refers to the distribution of individuals of different ages within a population. A population with a high proportion of young individuals indicates that many members are approaching reproductive age, which can lead to increased birth rates. This skewed age distribution is crucial for predicting future population growth.

Reproductive Potential

Reproductive potential is the capacity of a population to increase in size through reproduction. In populations with many young individuals, a significant number will soon reach maturity and begin reproducing, contributing to rapid population growth. This concept highlights the importance of age in understanding population dynamics.

Population Growth Rate

Population growth rate is the rate at which the number of individuals in a population increases over time, often expressed as a percentage. Factors influencing this rate include birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration. In a young population, low death rates combined with high birth rates typically result in a rapid increase in population size.