Which stage of bacterial growth occurs before the bacteria begin to die off?

The stationary stage is characterized by a balance between cell division and cell death, meaning that the number of new cells being produced is roughly equal to the number of cells dying. This balance occurs after the exponential growth phase, or log stage, where bacteria replicate rapidly.

During the stationary stage, nutrients may become limited, and waste products start to accumulate, which prevents further growth. However, the bacteria are not dying off at this stage; rather, they have reached a point of equilibrium. Understanding this balance is crucial as it highlights how environmental factors influence bacterial population dynamics.

In contrast, the other stages do not fit the description of occurring before death becomes prominent. The lag stage is focused on acclimatization and preparation for growth, while the log stage features rapid population growth. The death stage occurs when the number of dying cells surpasses the number of new cells being produced, which is not yet the case in the stationary phase.