Which growth model describes a population whose growth begins as exponential but slows as it reaches carrying capacity?

The logistic growth model accurately describes a population whose growth starts off exponentially but slows down as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment. In the early stages, when resources are plentiful and the population is relatively small compared to the environment's capacity, growth rates are high, resulting in rapid population increase.

As the population grows and resources become limited, the growth rate decreases due to increased competition for those resources. This slowdown continues until the population stabilizes at the carrying capacity, which is the maximum population size that the environment can sustainably support. The characteristic "S" shaped curve of the logistic model effectively illustrates this transition from exponential growth to a state of equilibrium at carrying capacity.

The other growth models mentioned do not demonstrate this pattern. The exponential growth model describes unlimited growth with no consideration for resource limitations. K-selected and Type III growth models pertain to population strategies and dynamics, focusing on different ecological and evolutionary factors rather than the typical growth pattern observed in the logistic model.