Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors

Define carrying capacity

• Carrying capacity is the minimum population size required for a species to survive.
• Carrying capacity refers to the total biomass of all species in an ecosystem.
• Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that a habitat can support without degradation.

• Carrying capacity is the number of individuals that can be supported by a single resource.

When the habitat is suitable,

populations generally have the

ability to increase in number, but that

potential growth is often restricted by

one or more _____

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Choose a few examples of limiting factors

• Wind speed
• Cover

• Predation or disease

• Quality and quantity of food

• Water

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Throughout the year available resources change. How does this affect carrying capacity?

• Carrying capacity remains constant regardless of resource availability.
• Increased resources lead to a decrease in carrying capacity.
• Carrying capacity is solely determined by the population size.
• Carrying capacity is affected by the availability of resources; it increases with abundant resources and decreases with scarce resources.

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When a population gets to large they can destroy food and cover. This means they have reached carrying capacity. What two things can happen when carrying capacity is reached

• 1. Migration to new habitats 2. Decline in population size.

• Increased food supply; 2. Population growth continues.
• Decreased competition for resources; 2. Stable population size.
• Immediate extinction of the species; 2. Migration to new habitats.

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Carrying capacity often refers to what type of carrying capacity

• Physical carrying capacity
• Biological carrying capacity

• Economic carrying capacity
• Social carrying capacity

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Define cultural carrying capacity

• Cultural carrying capacity is the maximum population size that humans will tolerate

• Cultural carrying capacity is the number of cultural artifacts a society can produce.
• Cultural carrying capacity refers to the total economic resources available to a culture.
• Cultural carrying capacity is the maximum number of languages a culture can support.

Choose an example of animals reaching their cultural carrying capacity limit.

• Dolphins in the Caribbean
• Lions in the Serengeti
• Beavers flooding land by building dams.

• Penguins in Antarctica

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