A population of rabbits introduced to an island grows rapidly for a few years,and then growth slows and stabilizes.The population becomes stable because:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support. When the population reaches this limit, growth slows and stabilizes. This is the most likely reason for the stabilization of the rabbit population on the island. Option A is not entirely correct, as it implies that the intrinsic rate of increase has declined as the population stabilizes, but it could have been constant during the stabilization phase. Option B is not likely, as environmental resistance usually increases as a population grows larger, not decreases. Option C is not likely, as a reduction in immigration would reduce the rabbit population, rather than stabilize it.

A Population of Rabbits Introduced to an Island Grows Rapidly