Populations

What is a population?

All organisms of the same species living in a particular area.

What can cause a population to increase?

More food, water and space, more births, fewer predators and fewer diseases.

What can cause a population to decrease?

Less food or water, disease, predation, competition, habitat loss and extreme weather.

What is competition?

When organisms compete for limited resources such as food, water, space or mates.

What is predation?

When one organism hunts and eats another organism.

What is carrying capacity?

The largest population an environment can sustainably support.

What can happen if a population becomes larger than the carrying capacity?

Resources become limited, competition increases and the population may decrease.