What word best describes a period with no net change in population size?

• A. Growth
• B. Plateau
• C. Decline
• D. Fluctuation

Answer: (B)

When a population shows no net change over a period, it’s effectively in a flat state where births plus immigration balance deaths plus emigration. That stable, unchanging level is described as a plateau. It highlights that the size stays roughly the same across the time window, even if individual births, deaths, and movements are still occurring.

Growth would mean the numbers are rising, and decline would mean they’re falling. Fluctuation implies the size moves up and down rather than staying constant. A plateau captures the idea of a consistent, zero net change within the period.