Carrying Capacity

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Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, including both living and non-living components.

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Example: This image shows an 'education ecosystem,' a business concept where different organizations interact. It does not illustrate a biological ecosystem or carrying capacity.

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Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Population

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A group of individuals of the same species living and interbreeding within a given geographical area at the same time.

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Example: This diagram shows a large group of people called a 'Population' and a smaller, representative group taken from it, called a 'Sample'.

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Limiting Factor Noun

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[lim-i-ting fak-ter]

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Limiting Factor

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An environmental condition or resource that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population.

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Example: The single loaf of bread is a limiting factor for the hands (a population), as its limited quantity prevents all of them from being fed.

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Abiotic Factor Noun

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[ey-bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

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Abiotic Factor

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A non-living chemical or physical part of the environment that affects living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.

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Example: This diagram shows examples of abiotic factors, which are the non-living parts of an ecosystem like sunlight, water, and temperature that limit population sizes.

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Biotic Factor Noun

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[bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

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Biotic Factor

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A living component of an ecosystem that affects other organisms, such as predation, competition, or availability of food.

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Example: This food web shows how biotic factors (living things) are connected. The availability of food limits the population of each organism, affecting carrying capacity.

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Mutualism Noun

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[myoo-choo-uh-liz-uhm]

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Mutualism

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A symbiotic relationship between two different species in which both individuals derive a fitness benefit from the interaction.

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Example: This diagram shows mutualism, where ants protect aphids and aphids provide food for the ants, helping both populations thrive.

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Commensalism Noun

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[kuh-men-suh-liz-uhm]

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Commensalism

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A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is neither significantly helped nor harmed by it.

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Example: The cow stirs up insects from the grass as it grazes, which the egrets (birds) eat. The egrets benefit, while the cow is unaffected.

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Tolerance Range Noun

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[tol-er-uhns reynj]

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Tolerance Range

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The specific range of environmental conditions, such as temperature or pH, within which a particular species can survive.

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Example: This graph shows how a species' population is highest in its optimum range, lower in its stressed range, and zero in the lethal range of an environmental variable.

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Niche Noun

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[nich]

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Niche

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The specific role an organism plays within its ecosystem, including its use of resources and interactions with other species.

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Example: An acorn woodpecker stores acorns in a tree, which is its specific role (niche) and helps determine how many woodpeckers the area can support (carrying capacity).

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Carrying Capacity Noun

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[kar-ee-ing kuh-pas-i-tee]

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Carrying Capacity

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The maximum population size of a species that can be sustained indefinitely by a given environment's available resources.

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Example: This graph shows a population's growth over time. The population increases until it reaches the 'Carrying Capacity,' the maximum number the environment can support.