Given below are two statements, an Assertion (A) and a Reason (R). Choose the correct answer.

Assertion (A):In a given area, the maximum population size of a species that the environment can sustain is called the carrying capacity.

Reason (R):As a population grows in an area, it may experience the effects of increased densities.

ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A) ✓ Correct

BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

C(A) is true, but (R) is false

D(A) is false, but (R) is true

Correct answer: (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation

Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason explains the assertion.

The assertion correctly defines carrying capacity as the largest population a given area's environment can sustain.

The reason notes that a growing population begins to feel the effects of rising density.

Those density effects, such as scarce food and space, are exactly what caps growth at the carrying capacity.

The reason therefore accounts for why a ceiling on population size exists.

Growth near carrying capacity typically traces an S-shaped logistic curve.

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