Final answer:
The correct answer to which option is not a population inhibitor is c) Birth, as births contribute to an increase in population size rather than inhibiting it, unlike the other options given.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks which of the provided options is not a population inhibitor. The options are a) Disease, b) Overcrowding, c) Birth, and d) Limited food. Population inhibitors are factors that contribute to limiting the growth of a population. These factors can increase death rates, lower birth rates, or lead to emigration, thereby reducing population size or growth. Disease, overcrowding, and limited food are all factors that can inhibit the growth of a population.
The disease can spread more easily in conditions where individuals are close together, leading to higher mortality rates. Overcrowding can increase stress and competition for resources such as food and space, which can hurt reproduction and survival. Limited food is a direct limiting factor that can lead to starvation and decreased reproduction rates. In contrast, births contribute to an increase in population size and are therefore not considered an inhibitor.
The correct answer to the student's question is c) Birth, as it is not a population inhibitor but rather a factor that increases population size.