Question

these pictures show the petri dish of bacteria at three points in time.
hour 14.5
hour 15
hour 17
which of the following are the most likely reasons that the population of bacteria stopped growing? select two.
the population did not have more space to grow.
the population consumed all the available food.
the population decided it was large enough and chose to stop reproducing.
bacteria emigrated from the population at the same rate that new bacteria were produced by reproduction.

Explanation:

To determine why bacterial population stopped growing, we analyze each option:

• "No more space" (limiting factor, as Petri dish has fixed area) and "consumed all food" (resource depletion, essential for growth) are valid ecological reasons.
• Bacteria don’t “decide” to stop (no consciousness), so that’s invalid.
• Emigration at same rate as reproduction would maintain population, not stop growth, so that’s invalid.

Answer:

The population did not have more space to grow.
The population consumed all the available food.