What term describes factors that prevent a population from growing?

The term that describes factors that prevent a population from growing is "limiting factors." These are specific conditions or variables that can impose constraints on the size and growth of a population. Limiting factors can include things like availability of food, water, habitat space, predation pressures, disease, and competition for resources. When these factors are in play, they can effectively limit the number of individuals that can thrive in a given environment, thus controlling the overall population size. Understanding limiting factors is crucial for studying ecosystems, population dynamics, and conservation efforts.