Question

Define carrying capacity and explain how it is related to the terms Biotic Potential and Environmental Resistance. How could you use your definition to explain why a cockroach has a different carrying capacity than a panda bear?

Answer 1

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of species that can be sustained by the resources of an environment without leading to environmental degradation. Biotic potential is the maximum potential of a species to reproduce under standard environmental conditions. So if the biotic potential increases a point will come when it will lead to an increase in the population that will exceed the carrying capacity and will lead to competition for resources, space and would lead to environmental degradation. Environmental resistance is the sum of biotic and abiotic factors that resist the population to exceed the carrying capacity of an population. It is responsible for limiting the carrying capacity of an ecosystem or population.

The carrying capacity of cockroaches would differ fromthat of polar bear because the amount of resources required by them are different. Also the reproductive rate of a cockroach is much higher than a polar bear and also size is small. So if two areas with same size and resources areoccupied by 10 cockroaches and 10 polar bear the carrying capacity for cockroaches will be higher as the area can sustain more cockroaches but not more polar bear.