Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

What are limiting factors?

Back

Environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population within an ecosystem.

Front

How does competition affect carrying capacity?

Back

Competition typically decreases the carrying capacity for the species involved.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down and recycle dead organisms and organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

What happens to a population when the death rate exceeds the birth rate?

Back

The population will shrink.

Front

What is the significance of a population reaching its carrying capacity?

Back

When a population reaches its carrying capacity, it tends to stabilize and remain relatively the same over time.

Front

What are examples of density-dependent limiting factors?

Back

Competition, predation, disease, and parasitism.

Front

What are examples of density-independent limiting factors?

Back

Natural disasters, climate changes, and human activities.

Front

How can human activities impact carrying capacity?

Back

Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and urbanization can reduce the carrying capacity of ecosystems.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Back

Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem (like plants and animals), while abiotic factors are non-living components (like water, soil, and climate).