Download Carrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity
Name: _______________________________________________________________ Period: ____ Date: __________
Essential Question: How does the growing population impact the carrying capacity of a habitat?
Carrying capacity is the number of animals a given habitat can support all year long without damaging the animals or
the habitat. The resources in any given habitat can support only a certain quantity of wildlife. As seasons change,
food and water supply may be in short supply. The carrying capacity of a certain habitat can vary from year to year.
It can be changed by nature or by humans.
The population size is constrained by food availability, competition with other species, and interactions with
predators and diseases. When the population size is smaller than the carrying capacity, the population growth rate is
positive so populations increase in size and when population size is larger than the carrying capacity, the population
growth rate is negative so that populations decrease in size. Eventually, these populations will either increase or
decrease in size until the population size equals the carrying capacity at which time the growth of the population will
stop. The carrying capacity represents a stable equilibrium of population size.
Factors that affect the Biological Carrying capacity of a Habitat
1. Amount of space
2. Abundance of food sources
3. Sustainability of food sources
4. Competition for food
5. Seasons ( amount of precipitation, temperature )
Factors that limit the increase of population in a habitat:
Disease/parasites, starvation, predators, Pollution, accidents, old age, and hunting
Maintaining the number of animals in a habitat at or below the habitat’s carrying capacity is done so that no damage
happen to the animals or to their habitat. In a sense. To manage a habitat historical trends, current habitat
conditions, breeding population levels, long-term projections, and breeding success must be considered.
Population Management
1. Monitoring Populations: continuously monitor the birth rate and death rate of various species and the
condition of their habitat.
2. Habitat Improvement: As succession occurs, the change in habitat affects the type and number of wildlife
the habitat can support. Trees may cut down or burn forested areas to promote new growth and slow down
the process of succession. This practice enables them to increase the production of certain wildlife species.
3. Hunting: Hunting is an effective wildlife management tool. Hunting practices help keep animal populations in
balance with their habitat.
4. Predator Control: In rare instances, predators must be reduced to enable some wildlife populations to
establish stable populations, particularly threatened or endangered species.
5. Artificial Stocking: Restocking is trapping animals in areas where they are abundant and releasing them in
areas of suitable habitat where they are not abundant.
6. Controlling or Preventing Disease and Its Spread: Disease can have a devastating effect on wildlife. Avian
cholera, for example, poses a serious threat, especially to ducks and geese on crowded wintering grounds.
Human beings are changing the carrying capacity of our planet.
The carrying capacity of our planet for humans has increased over time, especially with the developments in
agriculture, biotechnology, hydroponics, genetically modified organisms ( GMO), modern engineering ( high rise
buildings, housing, bridges etc.), vaccines and medicines, water treatment and irrigation, and ecological practices
like reducing, reusing, and recycling.
An ecosystem can only sustain so many organisms. That limit would be its carrying capacity. If the population goes
above that number then other factors will cause the population to crash and then rebound to a constant level.
R. Angat
Clarifying Questions:
1. What is carrying capacity?
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2. What can change or alter the carrying capacity of a certain habitat?
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3. What are the factors that limit or constrain the population size?
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4. Why is the population growth rate “positive” when the population size is smaller than the carrying
capacity? Think!
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5. Why is the population growth rate “negative” when the population size is larger than the carrying
capacity? Think!
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6. What are the Factors that affect the Biological Carrying capacity of a habitat?
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7. What are the Factors that limit the increase of population in a habitat?
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8. How can maintaining the number of animals in a habitat at or below the habitat’s carrying capacity protect
the animals and their habitat? Think!
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9. How is habitat managed to prevent overpopulation?
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10. What are the six ways to manage the population in a habitat?
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11. How are human beings increasing the carrying capacity of our planet?
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12. Explain how the following advancements increase the carrying capacity of our planet for human beings.
Think!
A. Genetically modified organisms ( GMO) _____________________________________________________
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B. Hydroponics ___________________________________________________________________________
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C. Vaccines and medicines__________________________________________________________________
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D. High rise buildings ______________________________________________________________________
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E. Water treatment and irrigation ____________________________________________________________
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F. Ecological practices like reducing, reusing, and recycling ________________________________________
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R. Angat
https://www.hunter-ed.com/northcarolina/studyGuide/Carrying-Capacity/201028_700014837
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150943/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI2ixJeIxEU
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS_msYArtvY
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FPMP41LYJ8
R. Angat