If a population reaches carrying capacity, what happens to its growth?

• A. It will stop increasing and level off
• B. It will accelerate
• C. It will disappear
• D. It will decrease rapidly

Answer: (A)

Reaching carrying capacity means the environment can no longer support a larger population without depleting resources. At that point, births and deaths balance out, so the net growth rate drops to zero and the population size levels off around the carrying capacity. It won’t keep increasing, disappear, or drop rapidly under stable conditions; it simply stabilizes with minor fluctuations as resources and conditions vary.