Question

As a population approaches its carrying capacity, how does its growth change?

A) The growth rate stays the same.
B) The growth rate slows as N approaches K.
C) r changes until it is close to K.
D) The growth rate slows until N is close to r.
E) The growth rate slows until N is 0.

Answer 1

As a population approaches its carrying capacity, the growth rate slows down, which means that the correct answer is B) The growth rate slows as N approaches K.

Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported by a particular habitat over a sustained period of time. As the population size (N) approaches the carrying capacity, resources become more limited, and competition for resources increases. This leads to a decrease in the population growth rate, as fewer individuals are able to survive and reproduce due to resource limitations. Eventually, the population growth rate will plateau as it reaches the carrying capacity, where the birth rate and death rate are equal.