Question

at which time point in the graph below does the size of the population reach the carrying capacity for the ecosystem? population is on the y axis and years is on the x axis

Explanation:

Step1: Identify carrying - capacity concept

The carrying - capacity is the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely. On a population - time graph, it is represented by the horizontal asymptote of the population curve.

Step2: Observe the graph

As time (x - axis) progresses, the population (y - axis) levels off. Looking at the graph, the population stops increasing and stabilizes at a value.

Step3: Determine the time

When the population reaches the carrying - capacity, the graph becomes horizontal. From the x - axis, we can see that this occurs at year 12.

Answer:

12