A population growing in a habitat with limited resources shows four phases of growth in the following sequence -

Options

A. Acceleration - Deceleration - Lag phase Asymptote
B. Asymptote - Acceleration - Deceleration - Lag phase
C. Lag phase - Acceleration - Deceleration - Asymptote
D. Acceleration - Lag phase - Deceleration - Asymptote

Answer

To solve the question regarding the four phases of population growth in a habitat with limited resources, we can break down the solution into clear steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Population Growth Phases**:
- When a population grows in a habitat with limited resources, it typically goes through four distinct phases. These phases are characterized by different growth rates and patterns.

2. **Identifying the First Phase - Lag Phase**:
- The first phase of growth is known as the **Lag Phase**. During this phase, the population experiences very slow growth as it acclimatizes to the new environment and resources are limited.

3. **Identifying the Second Phase - Exponential Phase**:
- Following the lag phase, the population enters the **Exponential Phase** (also referred to as the Acceleration Phase or Log Phase). In this phase, the growth rate increases rapidly as resources become more available, leading to maximum growth.

4. **Identifying the Third Phase - Deceleration Phase**:
- After the exponential phase, the population experiences a **Deceleration Phase**. In this phase, the growth rate begins to decline as resources become more limited and competition increases.

5. **Identifying the Fourth Phase - Stationary Phase**:
- The final phase is the **Stationary Phase** (also known as the Asymptote Phase). In this phase, the population size stabilizes as the birth rate equals the death rate, resulting in no significant growth or decline.

6. **Summarizing the Sequence**:
- The correct sequence of the four phases of population growth in a habitat with limited resources is:
- 1st: Lag Phase
- 2nd: Exponential Phase
- 3rd: Deceleration Phase
- 4th: Stationary Phase

7. **Choosing the Correct Option**:
- Based on the identified phases, the correct answer to the question is **Option 3**, which correctly lists the phases in the order: Lag Phase, Exponential Phase, Deceleration Phase, and Stationary Phase.

### Final Answer:
The correct sequence of the four phases of population growth is:
1. Lag Phase
2. Exponential Phase
3. Deceleration Phase
4. Stationary Phase