Science
Carrying capacity.
Definition
Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely given the available resources such as food, water, habitat, and other necessities. When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, limiting factors cause the growth rate to decline.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 An island can support only a certain number of deer before overgrazing depletes the vegetation
- 2 The carrying capacity for fish in a lake depends on oxygen levels, food supply, and predation
- 3 Human carrying capacity on Earth is debated and depends on technology, consumption patterns, and resource distribution
Key Fact
Logistic growth model: dN/dt = rN(1 − N/K), where K is carrying capacity and population growth slows as N approaches K.