Title of notes: Carrying Capacity pg. 16 RS

The largest population a given area can hold. Carrying capacity The largest population a given area can hold.

In regards to human populations… Carrying capacity often refers to the number of number of individuals that the Earth could hold at different standards of living and levels of resource consumption. Carrying capacity holds a slightly different meaning when applied to human population growth.

U.S. Developing country If everyone is to achieve the average standard of living of people in developing countries the carrying capacity would be higher. Earth’s carrying capacity is smaller if everyone is to achieve the average standard of living of people in the United States.

How does carrying capacity affect population growth? The larger the capacity, the more population of a species can be sustained.

Increases by a fixed % each year. Exponential growth Increases by a fixed % each year.

Exp. growth rarely lasts long food competition human activities shelter predation natural disaster space disease water

Where exponential growth is finally stopped by limiting factors. Logistic growth Where exponential growth is finally stopped by limiting factors.

Characteristics that limit population growth. Limiting factors Characteristics that limit population growth.

Density-dependent limiting factors A factor that stops a populations growth and is influenced by pop. density.

Density-independent limiting factors A factor that stops a populations growth and isn’t influenced by pop. density.