p. 148 #9, 10, 13, 15
p. 148 #9, 10, 13, 15
9. What is carrying capacity? Give an example.
9. Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a
particular species a particular environment can support. One is
example is how many reindeer can live on St. Paul Island continuously.
10. How is the carrying capacity of a city’s roads similar to the
carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
10. The carrying capacity of a city’s roads and the carrying capacity of
an ecosystem are similar because they are both limited by the
resources available. In the case of a city’s roads, the carrying
capacity depends on factors such as the number and width of
roads and the number of intersections. In an ecosystem, the
carrying capacity depends on factors such as the amount of space
and food.
p. 148 #9, 10, 13, 15
13. How might increasing the amount of a limiting nutrient in a pond
affect the carrying capacity of the pond?
13. Increasing the availability of a limiting nutrient would increase the
carrying capacity of the pond.
15. Describe how a predator-prey relationship can control both the
predator population and the prey population.
15. A predator-prey relationship can be a mechanism of population
control for both species. The population size of predators is limited by
the number of prey available to eat. In turn, the number of prey is
limited by the predation.