Carrying Capacity Flashcard

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

Front

What is population growth?

Back

Population growth is the increase in the number of individuals in a population over time.

Front

How does carrying capacity relate to population growth?

Back

Carrying capacity limits population growth; when a population exceeds its carrying capacity, resources become scarce, leading to a decline in population.

Front

What are limiting factors in an ecosystem?

Back

Limiting factors are environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of organisms.

Front

Give examples of limiting factors.

Back

Examples include food availability, water supply, habitat space, and predation.

Front

What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

Back

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it can lead to resource depletion, habitat destruction, and a decline in population size.

Front

What can cause a population to increase?

Back

Factors such as an increase in food supply, removal of predators, and reduction of disease can cause a population to increase.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Back

Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem (like plants and animals), while abiotic factors are non-living components (like water, sunlight, and temperature).

Front

How do human activities impact carrying capacity?

Back

Human activities can alter carrying capacity by changing land use, introducing pollutants, and affecting resource availability.

Front

What is the significance of the logistic growth model?

Back

The logistic growth model illustrates how populations grow rapidly when resources are abundant but slow as they approach carrying capacity.