Module 4: Ecosystem Dynamics IQ1

Question 1

What are the impacts of abiotic factors?

Answer 1

• carrying capacity
• climatic events can impact populations
• nutrient recycling

Question 2

What is ‘carrying capacity’?

Answer 2

Carrying capacity can be defined as a species’ average population size in a particular habitat. The species population size is limited by environmental factors like
- adequate food
- shelter
- water,
- and mates.
If these needs
are not met, the population will decrease until the resource rebounds.

Question 3

Factors that can affect carrying capacity include:

Answer 3

• weather and climate changes
• major changes in an ecosystem
• fluctuations in populations of food species or competitors.