When a population reaches its carrying capacity,

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a population reaches its carrying capacity, it means that the environment can no longer support any more individuals due to the limited resources available. Therefore, there are usually one or more factors (like food, water, shelter, etc.) that limit increased population growth. This results in a balance between the birth and death rates, such that the population size remains relatively stable over time. A and E are incorrect because reaching carrying capacity does not necessarily mean that more individuals will die or that new sources of nutrition must be found. B is unlikely because large numbers of individuals leaving the population would cause a decrease in population size, rather than a stable equilibrium. C is incorrect because there will still be births and deaths, just at relatively equal rates.

When a Population Reaches Its Carrying Capacity