Carrying Capacity
- Pronunciation
- /kar-ring KAP-uh-si-tee/
- Category
- Ecology
- Singular
- Carrying Capacity
- Plural
- Carrying Capacities
Definition
The maximum population size of a species that can be sustained indefinitely in a given environment.
Etymology
From the concept of carrying capacity as described by ecologists, referring to the ecological limit of an environment.
Example
The carrying capacity of a forest for deer depends on factors such as food availability, water resources, and predator presence.
Related Terms
- Population
- Density
- Limiting Factors
- Ecosystem