During which bacterial growth stage does the population size level off?

The population size of bacteria levels off during the stationary stage. In this phase, the rate of bacterial cell division is equal to the rate of cell death, leading to a stable population size. This occurs after the log stage, where bacteria multiply rapidly, and before the death stage, where the number of dying cells begins to exceed the number of new cells being formed. During the stationary stage, various factors may influence growth, such as nutrient depletion and accumulation of waste products, which contribute to the balance between cell division and death. Understanding this stage is crucial in microbiology, as it reflects the maximum capacity of a population to grow and the environmental limitations they face.