What term describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the definition of a specific ecological term that indicates the largest population that an environment can support over time without being degraded. The options provided suggest a selection from concepts related to ecological capacities and strategies.
Answer
Carrying capacity.
The term that describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely is 'carrying capacity.'
Answer for screen readers
The term that describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely is 'carrying capacity.'
More Information
Carrying capacity is a fundamental concept in ecology and environmental science, indicating the ability of an environment to sustain a certain number of individuals of a species. It's determined by the availability of resources like food, water, and habitat, and can be affected by environmental changes.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing carrying capacity with biotic potential, which refers to the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism, not the sustainable population size.
Sources
- Carrying Capacity - World Population History - worldpopulationhistory.org
- What term describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely? - Chegg - chegg.com
- Carrying capacity - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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