Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that a habitat can support based on its resources without having adverse effects on the population or the environment. Factors that determine the carrying capacity of a species include food, water, demographic aspects, climate, and shelter, among others.
Carrying capacity is not fixed or static, instead, it varies based on the season, from year to year, or according to the implementation of technologies. When an ecosystem exceeds its carrying capacity, populations face the following scenarios: having to change habits, migrating towards places with more resources, or a decrease in the size of the population.
Carrying capacity is not fixed or static, instead, it varies based on the season, from year to year, or according to the implementation of technologies. When an ecosystem exceeds its carrying capacity, populations face the following scenarios: having to change habits, migrating towards places with more resources, or a decrease in the size of the population.
References:
Glossary of Terms
La capacidad de carga: conceptos y usos
Introduction to Population Biology; Dick Neal (2004)
Cambridge University Press
Photo credit: jean wimmerlin en Unsplash
Glossary of Terms
La capacidad de carga: conceptos y usos
Introduction to Population Biology; Dick Neal (2004)
Cambridge University Press
Photo credit: jean wimmerlin en Unsplash