Exploring Ecological Carrying Capacity

What is the carrying capacity of an environment?

• The number of individuals in a species that an environment can support temporarily.

• The minimum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support.

• The average number of individuals in a species that an environment can support.

• The maximum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support for the long term.

Which of the following is NOT a limiting factor for carrying capacity?

• Energy

• Water

• Oxygen

• Predation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

• The population remains stable.

• Deaths outnumber births.

• The population continues to grow indefinitely.

• Births outnumber deaths.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

In the fishbowl example, what initially allows the fish population to grow?

• Abundant food and space

• Limited energy from the Sun

• Limited space

• Limited water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What eventually causes some fish to die off in the fishbowl example?

• Lack of space and food

• Too much energy from the Sun

• Excessive oxygen

• Abundant water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is the result when the fish population reaches the carrying capacity in the fishbowl?

• The population remains stable.

• Births outnumber deaths.

• Deaths outnumber births.

• The population continues to grow.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is the largest population that an environment can support called?

• Carrying capacity

• Environmental limit

• Maximum population

• Sustainable population

What happens to the population when it gets back in balance after exceeding the carrying capacity?

• Births and deaths are equal.

• The population continues to decline.

• Births outnumber deaths.

• Deaths outnumber births.