Predator-Prey Cycles & Carrying Capacity

Front

What is a limiting factor?

Back

A limiting factor is something that regulates the size of a population, such as food availability, predation, disease, and habitat space.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the largest number of individuals of a species that an environment can support long term without degrading the habitat.

Front

What does a predator-prey cycle illustrate?

Back

A predator-prey cycle illustrates the relationship between predator and prey populations, showing how they affect each other's numbers over time.

Front

Why does the predator population lag behind the prey population?

Back

The predator population lags behind the prey population because an increase in predators leads to a decrease in prey, which in turn affects the number of predators.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, create energy through photosynthesis and form the base of the food chain, supporting both herbivores and predators.

Front

How do immigration and emigration affect population size?

Back

Immigration increases population size by adding individuals from other areas, while emigration decreases it by removing individuals.

Front

What is population density?

Back

Population density is the number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume, indicating how crowded a population is.

Front

What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

Back

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, resources become scarce, leading to increased competition, starvation, and a decline in population size.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an ecosystem, which contributes to resilience, stability, and the ability to adapt to changes.

Front

How do environmental changes impact predator-prey relationships?

Back

Environmental changes can alter habitat, food availability, and competition, affecting both predator and prey populations and their interactions.