DOL Carrying Capacity

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the environment.

Front

How does exceeding carrying capacity affect a population?

Back

It causes a decline in resources and increased competition, leading to a population decrease.

Front

What concept is illustrated when a population stabilizes after rapid growth due to limited resources?

Back

Carrying capacity.

Front

What factors can influence carrying capacity?

Back

Availability of food and water, climate and weather conditions, predation and disease.

Front

What is the main focus of a biologist studying a fish population over several years?

Back

The growth rate of the fish population.

Front

What is exponential growth in population dynamics?

Back

A growth pattern where the population size increases rapidly in proportion to the current size, typically when resources are abundant.

Front

What is logistic growth?

Back

A growth pattern where the population grows rapidly at first, then slows as it approaches the carrying capacity of the environment.

Front

What are density-dependent factors?

Back

Factors that affect population size in relation to the population's density, such as competition, predation, and disease.

Front

What are density-independent factors?

Back

Factors that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters and climate changes.

Front

How do resources affect carrying capacity?

Back

The availability of resources like food, water, and shelter directly determines the maximum population size an environment can support.