Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The largest number of individuals in a species that an environment can support long term.

Front

What is a limiting factor?

Back

Any factor that restricts the size of a population, such as food, water, space, or competition.

Front

How does competition affect carrying capacity?

Back

Competition decreases the carrying capacity of an ecosystem for the animals in competition.

Front

What happens to a population when the death rate is higher than the birth rate?

Back

The population will shrink.

Front

True or False: Limiting factors can help keep a population from getting too large.

Back

True.

Front

What is the effect of abundant resources on carrying capacity?

Back

Abundant resources can increase the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.

Front

What is population density?

Back

The number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume.

Front

What is emigration?

Back

The movement of individuals out of a population.

Front

What is immigration?

Back

The movement of individuals into a population.

Front

How do predators affect the carrying capacity of their prey?

Back

Predators can decrease the carrying capacity of their prey by increasing the death rate.