Q1. Select the status of a population where the number of members in the pre-reproductive stage is less than the number in the reproductive stage.
Explanation
In population ecology, age structure indicates future growth. When the pre-reproductive group is smaller than the reproductive group, fewer young individuals are available to replace the current breeding population. That pattern points to a declining population. An expanding population has a broad base, with many pre-reproductive members. A stable population has a more balanced distribution between young and reproductive groups. The idea that stages do not affect one another is incorrect, because the age structure directly influences births, replacement and future population size.
