Carrying Capacity and Competition for Limited Resources
- Ecosystems can only support a certain number of individuals before resources run out.
- This limit is called the carrying capacity, the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support indefinitely.
What is Carrying Capacity?
Definition
Carrying capacity
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat.
- It depends on the availability of resources like food, water, and shelter.
- Changes in climate, natural disasters, and human activity can alter carrying capacity.
- Carrying capacity is not static.
- It changes with environmental conditions and human activities, such as deforestation or pollution.
A lake may support 500 fish under normal conditions, but a drought reducing water levels could lower its carrying capacity.
Competition for Limited Resources
- When resources are scarce, individuals must compete to survive.
- There are two types of competition:
- Intraspecific Competition – Between members of the same species competing for food, space, or mates.
- Interspecific Competition – Between different species competing for the same resources.
Lions and hyenas compete for prey in the savanna.
TipIn questions about competition, always specify whether it’s intraspecific (same species) or interspecific (different species).
Examples of Limited Resources Affecting Carrying Capacity
For Plants:
- Light Intensity – Taller plants block sunlight, reducing photosynthesis for smaller plants.
- Water Supply – Essential for growth; drought conditions reduce plant populations.
- Soil Nutrients – Key minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are often limited.
For Animals:
- Food Supply – Herbivores compete for plants, while carnivores compete for prey.
- Water Availability – Especially critical in deserts or during dry seasons.
- Space & Territory – Needed for nesting, breeding, and hunting; territorial animals may fight over land.
- Oxygen Levels – Aquatic animals compete for dissolved oxygen in water.
