1. What is carrying capacity? 2. How do limiting factors affect carrying capacity?

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
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Read the excerpt below and highlight the answers to the questions.
1.
What is carrying capacity?
2.
How do limiting factors affect carrying capacity?
Carrying Capacity
If a population is small and resources are plentiful, a population may grow quickly. But
over time, because of limiting factors, population growth tends to slow and then stop.
The population has reached the "carrying capacity" of the ecosystem.
Female cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) are especially fertile, able to give birth to
seven litters a year. While this would suggest areas with cottontail rabbits would be
overrun by them, this isn't the case. Rabbit populations are restricted by factors like food
availability and predation. Due to these limiting factors the rabbit population will only
get so big and that is it's carrying capacity. Carrying capacity can fluctuate depending on
the limiting factors. If there is more predation or little food, then the carrying capacity
will be lower. If there is little predation and abundant food, then the carrying capacity
will be higher because the ecosystem can support a larger population.
Transcribed Image Text:Read the excerpt below and highlight the answers to the questions. 1. What is carrying capacity? 2. How do limiting factors affect carrying capacity? Carrying Capacity If a population is small and resources are plentiful, a population may grow quickly. But over time, because of limiting factors, population growth tends to slow and then stop. The population has reached the "carrying capacity" of the ecosystem. Female cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) are especially fertile, able to give birth to seven litters a year. While this would suggest areas with cottontail rabbits would be overrun by them, this isn't the case. Rabbit populations are restricted by factors like food availability and predation. Due to these limiting factors the rabbit population will only get so big and that is it's carrying capacity. Carrying capacity can fluctuate depending on the limiting factors. If there is more predation or little food, then the carrying capacity will be lower. If there is little predation and abundant food, then the carrying capacity will be higher because the ecosystem can support a larger population.
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