A population grows rapidly at first and then levels off at carrying capacity of it is -

Options

A. Limited by density dependent factors
B. Limited by density independent factors
C. An oppurtunistic species
D. Relatively unaffected by limiting factors

Answer

To solve the question regarding a population that grows rapidly at first and then levels off at its carrying capacity, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Population Growth
Initially, populations tend to grow slowly due to limited resources and environmental factors. As these factors become more favorable (like availability of food, absence of predators, etc.), the population experiences rapid growth.

**Hint:** Consider the initial conditions of a population and what factors might change to allow for rapid growth.

### Step 2: Recognize Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely without being degraded. When a population reaches its carrying capacity, growth slows down and stabilizes.

**Hint:** Think about what happens to resources and competition when a population reaches its maximum sustainable size.

### Step 3: Identify Growth Patterns
There are different types of growth patterns in populations: exponential growth (unrestricted) and logistic growth (restricted by carrying capacity). The scenario described fits the logistic growth model.

**Hint:** Recall the difference between exponential growth and logistic growth in terms of resource availability and population dynamics.

### Step 4: Determine Limiting Factors
In the context of population growth, limiting factors can be density-dependent (factors that become more intense as the population density increases, like competition for resources) or density-independent (factors that affect the population regardless of its density, like natural disasters).

**Hint:** Consider how the growth of a population is affected by the number of individuals already present in the environment.

### Step 5: Choose the Correct Answer
Given the options provided, the correct answer is that the population is limited by density-dependent factors. This means that as the population grows and approaches the carrying capacity, factors such as competition for resources, predation, and disease become more significant, slowing down growth.

**Hint:** Look for the option that aligns with the concept of carrying capacity and the factors that influence population growth as density increases.

### Final Answer
The population grows rapidly at first and then levels off at carrying capacity because it is limited by density-dependent factors.

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