What is carrying capacity?

Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size of a given species that an environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, water, habitat and other necessary resources available. Different ecosystems and habitats have different carrying capacities for different species.

When a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment, it can lead to overpopulation and competition for resources, stress on ecosystems, depletion of resources, degradation of habitats, and ultimately a decline in the overall health and stability of the population and the ecosystem as a whole.

Carrying capacity is dynamic and can fluctuate over time due to changes in environmental conditions such as availability of resources, climate, and habitat quality. It is a complex concept that is influenced by multiple factors including food availability, space, climate, water resources, predators, diseases and other ecological interactions within a specific habitat.