Factors affecting population size

Question 1

What is carrying capacity?

Answer 1

Carrying capacity is the size of a population an ecosystem can support, due to abiotic (non-living) factors (e.g., temperature and weather) and biotic (living) factors.

Question 2

What is interspecific competition?

Answer 2

• Interspecific competition - organisms from different species compete for the same resources, such as red and grey squirrels competing for the same habitats and food.

Question 3

What is Intraspecific competition?

Answer 3

Intraspecific competition - organisms of the same species compete for the same resources, such as competing for mates, food, and territories.

Question 4

What is predation?

Answer 4

• Predation - the number of predators will determine the number of prey and vice versa, causing predator-prey cycles. For example, lynx populations will increase if there are enough hare to catch. This reduces the hare population, which means fewer lynx will be able to catch hares to survive.