understanding carrying capacity environmental science
TRANSCRIPT
Understanding Carrying Capacity
Environmental Science
Learning Target
I will predict if population size will increase or decrease based upon limiting factors and carrying capacity.
Carrying Capacity
Key Point #1: An environment can only support as many organisms as there is available food, water, and free space Carrying capacity = maximum number of
organisms that can live somewhere, based on the food, water, and free space.
Every species has a different carrying capacity.
Food, water, and free space are the LIMITING FACTORS that determine carrying capacity
AquacultureAquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants
Carrying Capacity
Key Point #2: We can read a carrying capacity graph to predict changes in population size
Time
Population size
Graph line = Population size at a
specific time
Dotted line = Carrying Capacity
Carrying Capacity
When a population is BELOW its carrying capacity, it will INCREASE in size
Birth rate exceeds death rates
Time
Population size
Carrying Capacity
But if it increases too much and rises ABOVE its carrying capacity, it will DECREASE in size
Death rate exceeds birth rate
Time
Population size
Carrying Capacity
When a population is BELOW its carrying capacity, it will INCREASE in size
Birth rate exceeds death rates
Time
Population size
Carrying Capacity
This happens over and over… but the increases and decreases get smaller and smaller…
Time
Population size
Carrying Capacity
Until eventually, the population size BECOMES STABLE AT THE CARRYING CAPACITY
Birth rate = death rate
Time
Population size
determined by
such asabove it
WORD BANK: water, carrying capacity, pop. size increases, limiting factors, food, pop. size decreases, space
below it
Carrying Capacity
Limiting Factors
Space
WaterFoodPopulation decreases
Population increases
Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity can also have a broader meaning. It can be defined as the number of living things (plants and animals) any area of land or water can support at any one time.
Different organisms will have different carrying capacities in the same area. Thus, the carrying capacity of an ecosystem affects everything that lives in it.
Closing
An environment can only support as many organisms as there is available food, water, and free space Carrying capacity = maximum number of
organisms that can live somewhere based on these limiting factors
We can read a carrying capacity graph to predict changes in population size Below carrying capacity = increase Above carrying capacity = decease Over time, population stabilizes at carrying
capacity