3.4 Carrying Capacity

• What is the carrying capacity of an environment?

  Maximum number of individuals
• The carrying capacity ($K$) is reached when population growth ($\frac{dN}{dt}$) equals zero
• Resource availability is a key factor affecting carrying capacity.
• How do environmental conditions affect carrying capacity?

  Climate, temperature, disasters
• Match the factor affecting carrying capacity with its description:

  Predation and Competition ↔️ Presence of predators and competitors

  Disease and Parasites ↔️ Impact of infectious diseases
• Arrange the factors affecting carrying capacity in order of their primary influence:

  1️⃣ Resource Availability

  2️⃣ Environmental Conditions

  3️⃣ Predation and Competition

  4️⃣ Disease and Parasites
• Climate, temperature, and natural disasters are examples of environmental conditions affecting carrying capacity.
• Predation and competition can reduce the carrying capacity of an environment.
• What role does habitat quality play in determining carrying capacity?

  Ensures availability of resources
• Match the factor affecting carrying capacity with its description:

  Climate Change ↔️ Alters environmental conditions

  Overconsumption of Resources ↔️ Depletes natural resources
• Arrange the stages of population growth in relation to carrying capacity:

  1️⃣ Exponential Growth

  2️⃣ Growth Slows

  3️⃣ Equilibrium at Carrying Capacity
• Habitat destruction reduces the carrying capacity of an environment.
• How does pollution affect carrying capacity?

  Contaminates essential resources
• Climate change alters environmental conditions, leading to shifts in species ranges
• Invasive species can disrupt ecosystems and lower carrying capacity.
• Match the human activity with its impact on carrying capacity:

  Pollution ↔️ Decreases environmental quality

  Invasive Species ↔️ Outcompetes native species
• Humans can enhance carrying capacity through sustainable practices like reforestation and efficient resource management
• Humans can enhance carrying capacity through sustainable practices like conservation efforts, reforestation, and efficient resource management
• Arrange the key human activities impacting carrying capacity in order of their primary effect:

  1️⃣ Habitat destruction and fragmentation: Reduces available space and resources

  2️⃣ Pollution: Contaminates air, water, and soil

  3️⃣ Overconsumption of resources: Depletes natural resources

  4️⃣ Climate change: Alters environmental conditions

  5️⃣ Introduction of invasive species: Disrupts ecosystems
• Humans can enhance carrying capacity through sustainable practices.
• What is the definition of carrying capacity (K)?

  Maximum sustainable population size
• Carrying capacity is reached when population growth ($\frac{dN}{dt}$) equals zero
• Match the factors affecting carrying capacity with their descriptions:

  Resource Availability ↔️ Access to food, water, shelter, and breeding sites

  Environmental Conditions ↔️ Climate, temperature, and natural disasters

  Predation and Competition ↔️ Presence of predators and competitors

  Disease and Parasites ↔️ Impact of infectious diseases and parasites
• When is carrying capacity mathematically reached?

  Population growth equals zero
• The logistic growth equation models population growth as it approaches carrying capacity.
• The logistic growth equation is \frac{dN}{dt} = r_{\max}N\left(1 - \frac{N}{K}\right)</latex>, where $K$ represents the carrying capacity
• What does $r_{\max}$ in the logistic growth equation represent?


  Maximum per capita growth rate
• Arrange the stages of population growth according to the logistic growth model:

  1️⃣ Exponential growth when N is small compared to K

  2️⃣ Growth slows as N approaches K

  3️⃣ Equilibrium is reached when N = K
• Match the variables in the logistic growth equation with their meanings:

  N</latex> ↔️ Population size

  $r_{\max}$ ↔️ Maximum per capita growth rate

  $K$ ↔️ Carrying capacity
• What happens to population growth as it approaches carrying capacity in the logistic growth model?

  Growth slows down
• What does habitat destruction and fragmentation reduce?

  Available space and resources
• Pollution contaminates air, water, and soil
• What does overconsumption of resources lead to?

  Depletion of natural resources
• Climate change alters environmental conditions
• What do invasive species disrupt in ecosystems?

  Ecosystem balance
• Match the human activity with its impact on carrying capacity:

  1️⃣ Habitat Destruction

  2️⃣ Reduces available space and resources
• What does overconsumption of resources deplete?

  Natural resources
• Climate change alters environmental conditions
• Invasive species disrupt ecosystems
• What are the key effects of human activities on carrying capacity?

  Habitat destruction, pollution, overconsumption, climate change, invasive species