Carrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity Tyrese Chandler 2022 Name: _______________________________________________________________ Period: ____ Date: __________ Essential Question: How does the growing population impact the carrying capacity of a habitat? Carrying capacity is the number of animals a given habitat can support all year long without damaging the animals or the habitat. The resources in any given habitat can support only a certain quantity of wildlife. As seasons change, food and water supply may be in short supply. The carrying capacity of a certain habitat can vary from year to year. It can be changed by nature or by humans. The population size is constrained by food availability, competition with other species, and interactions with predators and diseases. When the population size is smaller than the carrying capacity, the population growth rate is positive so populations increase in size and when population size is larger than the carrying capacity, the population growth rate is negative so that populations decrease in size. Eventually, these populations will either increase or decrease in size until the population size equals the carrying capacity at which time the growth of the population will stop. The carrying capacity represents a stable equilibrium of population size. Factors that affect the Biological Carrying capacity of a Habitat 1. Amount of space 2. Abundance of food sources 3. Sustainability of food sources 4. Competition for food 5. Seasons ( amount of precipitation, temperature ) Factors that limit the increase of population in a habitat: Disease/parasites, starvation, predators, Pollution, accidents, old age, and hunting Maintaining the number of animals in a habitat at or below the habitat’s carrying capacity is done so that no damage happen to the animals or to their habitat. In a sense. To manage a habitat historical trends, current habitat conditions, breeding population levels, long-term projections, and breeding success must be considered. Population Management 1. Monitoring Populations: continuously monitor the birth rate and death rate of various species and the condition of their habitat. 2. Habitat Improvement: As succession occurs, the change in habitat affects the type and number of wildlife the habitat can support. Trees may cut down or burn forested areas to promote new growth and slow down the process of succession. This practice enables them to increase the production of certain wildlife species. 3. Hunting: Hunting is an effective wildlife management tool. Hunting practices help keep animal populations in balance with their habitat. 4. Predator Control: In rare instances, predators must be reduced to enable some wildlife populations to establish stable populations, particularly threatened or endangered species. 5. Artificial Stocking: Restocking is trapping animals in areas where they are abundant and releasing them in areas of suitable habitat where they are not abundant. 6. Controlling or Preventing Disease and Its Spread: Disease can have a devastating effect on wildlife. Avian cholera, for example, poses a serious threat, especially to ducks and geese on crowded wintering grounds. Human beings are changing the carrying capacity of our planet. The carrying capacity of our planet for humans has increased over time, especially with the developments in agriculture, biotechnology, hydroponics, genetically modified organisms ( GMO), modern engineering ( high rise buildings, housing, bridges etc.), vaccines and medicines, water treatment and irrigation, and ecological practices like reducing, reusing, and recycling. An ecosystem can only sustain so many organisms. That limit would be its carrying capacity. If the population goes above that number then other factors will cause the population to crash and then rebound to a constant level. Clarifying Questions: 1. What is carrying capacity? Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that a habitat can sustain indefinitely without degrading its natural resources. _______________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What can change or alter the carrying capacity of a certain habitat? The carrying capacity of a habitat can be changed or altered by factors such as changes in resource availability, environmental conditions, predation pressure _______________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What are the factors that limit or constrain the population size? Factors that limit or constrain population size include food availability, competition for resources, predation, disease, _________________________________________________________________________________________ habitat destruction, and environmental stressors. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Why is the population growth rate “positive” when the population size is smaller than the carrying capacity? Think! The population growth rate is positive when the population size is smaller than the carrying capacity because _____________________________________________________________________________________ resources are abundant, allowing for rapid population growth. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Why is the population growth rate “negative” when the population size is larger than the carrying capacity? Think! The population growth rate is negative when the population size is larger than the carrying capacity because resources _______________________________________________________________________________________ become scarce, leading to competition, stress, and a decline in population growth. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What are the Factors that affect the Biological Carrying capacity of a habitat? Factors affecting the biological carrying capacity of a habitat include food availability, water availability, shelter, _________________________________________________________________________________________ nesting sites, and breeding opportunities. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. What are the Factors that limit the increase of population in a habitat? Factors limiting population increase in a habitat include predation, competition for resources, disease, _________________________________________________________________________________________ environmental conditions like temperature and rainfall, and availability of suitable habitat. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. How can maintaining the number of animals in a habitat at or below the habitat’s carrying capacity protect the animals and their habitat? Think! Maintaining the number of animals at or below the habitat's carrying capacity helps prevent overgrazing, _________________________________________________________________________________________ habitat degradation, and resource depletion, preserving the health of both the animals and their environment. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. How is habitat managed to prevent overpopulation? Habitat can be managed to prevent overpopulation through strategies such as habitat conservation, wildlife management, _________________________________________________________________________________________ population control measures, and sustainable resource use. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What are the six ways to manage the population in a habitat? Six ways to manage population in a habitat include habitat restoration, predator control, population culling, contraception _________________________________________________________________________________________ or sterilization programs, habitat enhancement, and public education and awareness. _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. How are human beings increasing the carrying capacity of our planet? Human beings are increasing the carrying capacity of our planet through advancements in technology, agriculture, _________________________________________________________________________________________ medicine, and infrastructure development. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Explain how the following advancements increase the carrying capacity of our planet for human beings. Think! increase the carrying capacity of our planet by enhancing crop yield, A. Genetically modified organisms ( GMO) _____________________________________________________ resistance to pests and diseases, and tolerance to environmental stresses, thereby ensuring food security ______________________________________________________________________________________ increases the carrying capacity by enabling efficient cultivation of crops in controlled environments B. Hydroponics ___________________________________________________________________________ without soil, using less water and space compared to traditional agriculture, and allowing year-round production ______________________________________________________________________________________ increase the carrying capacity by reducing mortality rates from infectious diseases, C. Vaccines and medicines__________________________________________________________________ improving overall health and longevity, and enabling populations to thrive with lower disease burdens. ______________________________________________________________________________________ increase the carrying capacity by maximizing land use efficiency, accommodating large D. High rise buildings ______________________________________________________________________ populations in urban areas, and providing residential, commercial, and recreational spaces vertically ______________________________________________________________________________________ increase the carrying capacity by expanding access to clean water for drinking, E. Water treatment and irrigation ____________________________________________________________ agriculture, and sanitation, enhancing crop productivity, sustaining ecosystems, and supporting human health ______________________________________________________________________________________ increase the carrying capacity by minimizing resource F. Ecological practices like reducing, reusing, and recycling ________________________________________ depletion and environmental degradation, promoting sustainable consumption and waste management, and conserving ______________________________________________________________________________________ natural habitats and biodiversity for future generations. ______________________________________________________________________________________