Logistic growth, growth rate as N approaches K.

• A. Growth rate slows and approaches zero.
• B. Growth rate increases toward infinity.
• C. Growth rate remains constant at r.
• D. Growth rate becomes negative immediately.

Answer: (A)

Logistic growth shows how the growth rate slows as a population nears the carrying capacity because resources become limited and competition increases. The model dN/dt = rN(1 - N/K) captures this: as N gets close to K, the factor (1 - N/K) becomes very small, so the overall growth rate dN/dt drops toward zero. This means births plus immigration can’t outpace deaths plus emigration, and the population levels off at K. The other options don’t fit this pattern: the rate doesn’t rise toward infinity, it doesn’t stay constant at r as N grows, and negative growth at N near K would only occur if N already exceeded K.