Population regulation is a fundamental process related to most ecological phenomena: regulation arises as a result of potentially stabilizing processes dependent on density, even when caused by non-equilibrium mechanisms ( Murdoch, 1994 ). No population continues to grow indefinitely. Specifically, populations that exhibit exponential growth eventually succumb to limitations imposed by the environment. When the density of a population changes, a natural series of environmentally controlled interactions forms between members of the population, thus regulating the size of the population. These interactions include a wide variety of mechanisms related to physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations (Smith & Smith, 2012). The concept of logistic population growth According to Smith (1966), a concept popularized in 1978 by the English priest and economist Thomas Robert Malthus states that births, deaths and movements influence both the number of organisms present in a given area and the growth of the population itself. Like the individuals that make up a population, the population itself begins as a small unit and continues to expand until it reaches a certain level of equilibrium with the environment. In its initial colonization of an unoccupied habitat, it grows geometrically in proportion to its numbers as it finds itself in an area where environmental conditions are constant and resources excessive. However, as the population increases, the harmful effects of increasing population density begin to slow the growth rate. Because resources are limited, exponential growth cannot be sustained indefinitely. The maximum population size that can be supported for a particular environment... center of the map... competition, dominant individuals claim sufficient resources for growth and reproduction. Others do not produce children or die. Competition can involve interference between individuals or indirect interactions through the exploitation of resources. Comp, growth and development Competition for scarce resources can diminish or retard growth and development. Up to a certain point, plants respond to competition by changing their shape and size. Competition and Mortality A common response to high population density is reduced survival. Mortality functions to increase the availability of resources for remaining individuals, allowing for greater growth. Competition and Reproduction High population density and competition can also work to delay reproduction in animals and reduce fecundity in both plants and animals. Smith, Thomas M. and Robert Leo Smith. Elements of ecology. Pearson, press.2012