Population growth

what is a carrying capacity?

the maximum population size that can be supported indefinetely on the available resources and services of that ecosystem

what are environmental factors that limits population growth/set the carrying capacity?

food, water, climate and space, predators and disease

environmental resistance

the sum of all environmental limiting factors. it stops a population growing forever

what happens above the carrying capacity?

population rises (overshoot) → more disease from overcrowding, more waste builds up, fewer resources each, more predation → increased death rate, decrease birth rate

what are r-strategists?

Quantity > Quality: species that focus on growth rates, quick reproduction, and flooding an environment with offspring.

Offspring: many
parental care: minimal
maturity: early
environment: unstable
lifespan: short

what are k-strategists?

Quality > Quantity: species that focus on slow growth, high efficiency, maintaining population sizes close to environment’s carrying capacity

offspring: few
parental care: high
maturity: late
environment: stabke
lifespan: long