Carrying Capacity

Question 1

what is Population?

Answer 1

• A population is the number of a particular species in a particular place at a time
• population are dynamic and regularly flocculate, due to the number of resources available to each individual within a population
• a group of individuals belonging to the same species living in a particular place at the same time

Question 2

what is Carrying Capacity?

Answer 2

• Every Ecosystems has a set Availability of resources. The number of Resources, available in any ecosystems is called a carrying capacity
• the carrying capacity of an ecosystem is the maximum number of individuals in a population the environment can support given availability of food, water, shelter and other resources the species need.
• the total population able to be supported by a particular moment
• the greatest density of organisms that an area or resource can potentially support

Question 3

what are limiting Factors?

Answer 3

• space, food, time, water, shelter
• a limiting factor is any abiotic or biotic factor the impacts the abundance of individuals and populations in an environment
• different species will have different limiting factors and will have different adaptations in order to conduct their niche within their ecosystem

Question 4

what is Density Dependent?

Answer 4

• factors increase/ decrease
• abiotic
• wind, crowding, temperature, light availability, water availability

Question 5

what is Density Independent ?

Answer 5

• factors increase/ decrease biotic
• predication, parasitism, competitive, crowding, infectious diseases, waste accumulation

Question 6

what are biotic factors?

Answer 6

• influence the carrying capacity of an environment are: the relationships, food sources, competitors and disease causing agents
• change in biotic factors can affect the carrying capacity of an ecosystems. If grass numbers dwindle in a grassland, the the number of herbivores it can support will drastically reduce. This of course will have a flow on effect to organisms higher up the food chain

Question 7

give an example of a biotic factor

Answer 7

kangaroos will not give birth to as many young during pregnancy if food is scarce. apparently they can suspend embryo development.

Question 8

what are Abiotic Factors?

Answer 8

• nutrients, shelter, refuge from predators, light, water and amount of oxygen.
• abiotic factors can have a large affect upon carrying capacity of an environment. if sea temperatures increase, an animal who thrives in warmer water are more likely to be abundant and will be able to be supported in a greater numbers. conversely, lowering sea temperatures would lead to a decline in the carrying capacity of that environment.
• abiotic factors can change quickly (as many are weather impacted) and adverse wether tends to lead to adverse abiotic conditions.

Question 9

what is the population Growth Rate Formula

Answer 9

PGE = (birth rate + Immigration rate ) - (death rate + emigration rate)

Question 10

what is Lincoln index

Answer 10

N = n1 x n2 / m2

Question 11

what are environmental limiting factors

Answer 11

• any factor that limits the growth of a population

Question 12

what is Biotic Potential

Answer 12

• number of offspring capable of being produced by individuals of a species

Question 13

what is environmental resistance

Answer 13

• sum total of all environmental limiting factors