Sigmoid Growth Curve (2)

The deceleration phase is a slowdown of population growth caused by the gradual increase of the environmental resistance present in the system. The deceleration continues until a more or less equilibrium level is reached and maintained. The upper asymptote of the sigmoid curve is often referred to as the carrying capacity of that environmentthe limit at which that environment can support a population. This growth curve is characteristic of larger organisms with larger life cycles and lower biotic potential.