Which term describes the gradual reduction of a population's growth rate?

The term that describes the gradual reduction of a population's growth rate is the stationary phase. During this phase, the growth rate of the population slows down significantly as it approaches the carrying capacity of the environment. This occurs because resources such as food, space, and nutrients become limited, leading to increased competition among individuals and a reduction in reproduction rates. In the stationary phase, the number of individuals becomes more stable, and the population may fluctuate around a relatively constant size, indicating that the growth rate has declined as environmental resistance factors influence the population dynamics.

In contrast, the other phases listed refer to different aspects of population growth. The exponential phase refers to the period of rapid population increase when resources are plentiful, while the death phase typically describes a situation where mortality rates exceed birth rates, leading to a decline in population size. The growth phase is similar to the exponential phase, signifying a period of increasing numbers without limits. None of these terms specifically capture the gradual slowing of growth as accurately as the stationary phase does.