What is the carrying capacity?

The carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support over time. This concept takes into account the availability of resources such as food, water, and habitat space, as well as the impact of environmental factors and interactions with other species (including competition and predation). When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it may experience negative consequences like resource depletion, which can lead to increased mortality rates, decreased reproduction, and ultimately a reduction in population size until a balance is restored.

This definition emphasizes sustainability and the specific capacity of an environment to support living organisms rather than simply focusing on species diversity or the ideal conditions for breeding. Understanding carrying capacity is vital in ecology as it helps predict population dynamics and informs conservation strategies.