Limiting Factors and Carrying Capacity

The video tutorial introduces the concepts of limiting factors and carrying capacity, explaining how they affect populations. It uses the case study of St. Matthew Island, where reindeer overpopulation led to resource depletion and a population crash. The tutorial highlights the importance of balancing population growth with available resources to prevent habitat damage and ensure long-term species survival.

What is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

• A resource that is abundant and easily accessible

• A resource that is in very limited supply

• A factor that increases population growth

• A factor that has no impact on the environment

Which of the following is an example of a limiting factor for humans?

• Abundant water resources

• Complex societal needs

• Unlimited food supply

• Infinite living space

What does carrying capacity refer to?

• The average number of species in an ecosystem

• The minimum number of species needed for survival

• The maximum number of species an environment can support indefinitely

• The total number of species that have ever lived in an environment

Why was the reindeer population initially able to grow rapidly on St. Matthew Island?

• They were protected by humans

• They had no natural predators and abundant food

• They had a large number of offspring

• They were genetically modified for rapid growth

What was the unintended consequence of leaving reindeer on St. Matthew Island?

• The reindeer population grew excessively

• The reindeer population remained stable

• The reindeer population decreased immediately

• The reindeer population was unaffected

What happened to the reindeer population by the summer of 1966?

• It decreased to 42

• It was completely wiped out

• It increased to 10,000

• It remained at 6,000

What does the story of St. Matthew Island illustrate about carrying capacity?

• Carrying capacity can be ignored without consequences

• Exceeding carrying capacity can lead to population crashes

• Carrying capacity is irrelevant to population dynamics

• Carrying capacity always increases over time

How does exceeding carrying capacity affect the habitat?

• It increases the habitat's carrying capacity

• It can damage the habitat and reduce its carrying capacity

• It has no effect on the habitat

• It improves the habitat's resources

What is the long-term impact of habitat damage due to overpopulation?

• The habitat quickly recovers to its original state

• The habitat's carrying capacity is permanently increased

• The habitat's carrying capacity is permanently reduced

• The habitat remains unchanged

What does the blue line in the population graph represent?

• The amount of food available

• The number of predators

• The carrying capacity

• The population size