3.4 Carrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity (k)

The maximum number of individuals in a population that an ecosystem can support (based on limiting resources)

What are the limiting resources that affect the carrying capacity?

Food, water, habitat

Overshoot

When a population briefly exceeds carrying capacity

Ex. of overshoot

Deer breed in fall and give birth in spring causing a sudden spike in population

Consequence of overshoot

Resource depletion

Ex. of the consequences of overshoot

Deer overgrazing in spring after the babies are born

Die-off

Sharp decrease in population when resource depletion leads to many individuals dying

Ex. of die-off

Many deer starve with too many new fawns feeding in spring

Population crash

If resource depletion is severe enough the entire population can die

Predator and prey

As prey increases, predators also increases, and as predator increases eventually the prey will decrease (to much hunting), and with less prey there is less predators