Carrying Capacity

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support sustainably.

Front

What is competition in ecology?

Back

A condition that occurs when two or more organisms compete for the same resources.

Front

What is a limiting factor?

Back

A biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the growth of a population.

Front

How does carrying capacity affect population dynamics?

Back

When a population reaches its carrying capacity, the growth rate slows and stabilizes due to limited resources.

Front

What happens to predator and prey populations when a species goes extinct?

Back

The predators of the extinct species may decrease, while the prey population may increase.

Front

What are biotic factors?

Back

Living components of an ecosystem that affect the population, such as food availability, competition, and predation.

Front

What are abiotic factors?

Back

Non-living components of an ecosystem that affect the population, such as temperature, water, and nutrients.

Front

How can overpopulation affect an ecosystem?

Back

Overpopulation can lead to resource depletion, habitat destruction, and increased competition among species.

Front

What is the significance of a population graph?

Back

A population graph visually represents changes in population size over time, helping to identify trends and carrying capacity.

Front

What role do limiting factors play in population growth?

Back

Limiting factors prevent populations from growing indefinitely by restricting resources and space.