Final answer:
Logistic growth describes a pattern of population growth that starts slowly, accelerates rapidly, and then levels off due to density-dependent factors. This occurs typically when a population runs out of resources or is affected by its own waste accumulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of population growth that begins slowly, then grows quickly and finally levels off is called logistic growth. In logistic growth, factors that limit growth are often density dependent, meaning they are influenced by the population becoming too large and crowded. Examples include running out of food or being poisoned by its own wastes, which subsequently slows down the growth and causes it to level off.
Contrarily, exponential growth describes a pattern where the population grows at an increasing rate as its size increases, assuming unlimited resources. This growth is initially slow but accelerates over time, depicted as a 'J-shaped' curve. However, when resources become limited, the population's growth rate will slow down and stabilize, marking a transition to logistic growth.