The combination of external factors that keep a population from reaching its maximum growth rate is

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Environmental resistance refers to various external factors that limit the growth rate of a population, such as availability of resources, competition, predation, disease, and unfavorable weather conditions. These factors prevent a population from reaching its maximum potential growth rate and may even cause a decline in population size. Population aging (A) refers to an increase in the proportion of older individuals in a population, but it does not necessarily limit population growth. Environmental augmentation (B) and environmental assuagement (E) are not commonly used terms in ecology and do not accurately describe factors that limit population growth. Population clumping (C) refers to the uneven distribution of individuals in a population, which may be influenced by social or environmental factors, but it is not necessarily related to growth rate.

The Combination of External Factors That Keep a Population from Reaching