Interactions with the Environment Limiting Factors and Carrying CapacityLimiting Factors and Carrying Capacity

TN State Standards Analyze the environments and the interdependence among organisms found in the world’s major biomes. Analyze the environments and the interdependence among organisms found in the world’s major biomes. What does interdependence mean? What does interdependence mean? ……to be mutually reliant on each other ……to be mutually reliant on each other What does analyze mean? What does analyze mean?..….to examine carefully and in detail..….to examine carefully and in detail

Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors A simple example of carrying capacity is the number of people who could survive in a lifeboat after a shipwreck. Their survival depends on how much food and water they have, how much each person eats and drinks each day, and how many days they are afloat. The food, water, and days at sea would be the factors that limit their survival. Carrying capacity and limiting factors have to do with sustaining populations in an ecosystem.

Limiting Factors Populations cannot grow without stopping, because the environment contains a limited amount of food, water, living space and other resources. These factors will “limit” the growth of a population size within an ecosystem. A population may only grow to a certain size and still have all of its needs met. Populations cannot grow without stopping, because the environment contains a limited amount of food, water, living space and other resources. These factors will “limit” the growth of a population size within an ecosystem. A population may only grow to a certain size and still have all of its needs met. A single resource can be a limiting factor to a population’s size. A single resource can be a limiting factor to a population’s size. For example, food becomes a limiting factor when a population becomes too large for the amount of food available. For example, food becomes a limiting factor when a population becomes too large for the amount of food available.

Carrying Capacity The carrying capacity of an ecosystem is the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment. The carrying capacity of an ecosystem is the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment.

Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors When a population grows larger than its carrying capacity, limiting factors in the environment cause individuals to die off or leave, and the population decreases. When a population grows larger than its carrying capacity, limiting factors in the environment cause individuals to die off or leave, and the population decreases. For example, after a rainy season, plants may produce a large crop of leaves and seeds. This large amount of food may cause an herbivore population to grow. For example, after a rainy season, plants may produce a large crop of leaves and seeds. This large amount of food may cause an herbivore population to grow. If the next year has less rainfall, there won’t be enough food to support the large herbivore population. If the next year has less rainfall, there won’t be enough food to support the large herbivore population.

Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors In this way, the population may become larger than the carrying capacity, but only for a little while. In this way, the population may become larger than the carrying capacity, but only for a little while. A limiting factor will cause the population to die back. The population will return to a size that the environment can support. A limiting factor will cause the population to die back. The population will return to a size that the environment can support.