Carrying Capacity and Limited Factors

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

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

Front

What are limiting factors?

Back

Conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population within an ecosystem.

Front

Give examples of biotic limiting factors.

Back

Predation, competition, disease, and availability of food.

Front

Give examples of abiotic limiting factors.

Back

Temperature, water availability, sunlight, soil nutrients, and space.

Front

How do limiting factors affect population growth?

Back

They can slow down or stop population growth when resources are scarce.

Front

What happens to a population when resources are abundant?

Back

The population tends to increase as there are enough resources to support growth.

Front

What is the relationship between carrying capacity and limiting factors?

Back

Carrying capacity is determined by the limiting factors present in the environment.

Front

What can cause a decrease in carrying capacity?

Back

Natural disasters, habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation of resources.

Front

True or False: Limiting factors can be both biotic and abiotic.

Back

True.

Front

What is the effect of a natural disaster on an ecosystem's carrying capacity?

Back

It typically decreases the carrying capacity due to loss of resources.