What term describes the situation when the birth rate and death rate are nearly equal, resulting in little change in population size?

The term that describes the situation when the birth rate and death rate are nearly equal, resulting in little change in population size, is indeed equilibrium. When a population reaches this balance, it indicates a stable state where the number of individuals being born is approximately equal to the number of individuals dying. This balance signifies that there is no significant growth or decline in the population, allowing for a sustainable environment for the species involved.

In population ecology, equilibrium reflects a state of balance in the ecosystem, where resources are adequate to support the population, and environmental factors such as food, habitat, and predation influence population dynamics. Understanding this concept is crucial in studying how populations interact with their environment and the implications of changes in birth and death rates. The other terms listed do not capture this specific scenario of balanced population dynamics.