What outcome is typical of populations experiencing exponential growth?

In populations experiencing exponential growth, a rapid increase in total population is a characteristic outcome. This type of growth occurs when resources are abundant, enabling organisms to reproduce at a constant rate without significant environmental constraints. As a result, the population grows increasingly larger over time, often represented graphically by a J-shaped curve.

This growth pattern indicates that the size of the population at any given time is determined by its previous size, leading to larger increases as the population becomes more numerous. Since there are minimal limiting factors such as food or space, each generation can produce more offspring rapidly, resulting in a steep incline in population numbers over a relatively short period.

Other options do not capture this phenomenon accurately: stable population sizes indicate equilibrium rather than growth; decreasing population numbers suggest a decline due to factors like death rates exceeding birth rates or resource limitations; linear growth would imply a constant addition of individuals rather than a multiplication effect typical of exponential growth. Thus, the correct answer highlights the essence of exponential growth dynamics in populations.