Aim: How is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem determined?

Question Can you squeeze as many people as you want into an elevator? Why or why not?

The Correct Answer is….. The correct answer should be______ because the elevator has a maximum weight load it can pull. If you exceed the weight load, the cable pulling the elevator will __________. Therefore, the maximum carrying weight load for the elevator is determined by the strength of the _________.

Based on the diagram below. What do you think is the definition of carrying capacity?

1000 500 The graph above shows the carrying capacity of this particular ecosystem to be about 1000 rabbits. What factors might determine this carrying capacity?

Factors Determining Carrying Capacity 1. Limited resources such as a. Amount of land/space b. Amount of available food c. Amount of available water d. Amount of available oxygen (important in water)

Factors Determining Carrying Capacity 2. Increased disease a. The more diseases there are, the lesser the population will be.

Factors Determining Carrying Capacity 3. Predation a. The number of predators More predators = less prey

Can you think of any other factor that might have an effect on the carrying capacity?

Refer to the following statement when answering the next questions. “The carrying capacity of this lake equals 150 minnows.” Minnows = a type of fish a. Can less than 150 minnows live in this lake? Explain.

Refer to the following statement when answering the next questions. “The carrying capacity of this lake equals 150 minnows.” Minnows = a type of fish b) Can more than 150 minnows live in this lake? Explain

Refer to the following statement when answering the next questions. “The carrying capacity of this lake equals 150 minnows.” Minnows = a type of fish c. Let’s say that there are 140 minnows in this lake when the amount of resources in this lake decreases and the carrying capacity drops from 150 to 100 minnows. What will happen to this minnow population? Why will this happen?

a) What is the carrying capacity (approx.)? b) Approximately during which year did this population reach the carrying capacity of its ecosystem? c) About how many years did it stay at the carrying capacity?

a) What are the carrying capacities of this graph? b) How many years did this population spend at the first carrying capacity? c) During which year did it reach the next carrying capacity? d) Which carrying capacity is more stable, Graph A or Graph B? Why do you think so?

Graph 3

Graph 4

“Booms” and “Busts”