Changes in a population of coyotes are shown in the table below. Year Approximate population
2001 1302
2002 1426
2003 1450
2004 1551
2005 1607
2006 1700
2007 1702
2008 1700
What is the most likely explanation for why the size of the coyote population did not change during the 2006
2008 period?
Choose
1
A. There was an extreme decrease in the population's food source.
B. the population reached carrying capacity of the environment .
C. the population experienced high predation.
D. a new parasite affected the population.

B

Explanation:

The most likely explanation for why the size of the coyote population remained unchanged between 2006 and 2008 would be that the population reached its carrying capacity of the environment.

The carrying capacity of a population of an organism  is the maximum number of the organism the environment can support based on the resources the environment has. Below this number, the population of the organism has the potential to increase while above the carrying capacity, the population has the tendency to decrease. The population of an organism fluctuates around the carrying capacity without any major decrease or increase.

The correct option is B.

any abiotic or biotic factor in an ecosystem that causes a population's size to slow or decrease is a limiting factor.