Question

How does increasing the size of the habitat affect carrying capacity? Explain your answer. Recall the scenarios: 0-15, Little land, 15-30 years, Moderate land; 30-45 years, Ample land. ​

Answer 1

The carrying capacity of a habitat is the maximum number of organisms a habitat can sustain over a long period of time. Carrying capacity is dependent on the number of resources available in an area. Therefore, if the resources available increase, the population of that organism will also increase. In the three scenarios we tested how the population of rabbits changed over time with different amounts of land. When there was little land, the rabbit population was consistent, never exceeding 100. As we changed the setting to moderate land, we saw a population growth of around 2.3% (around 230). Lastly, when there was ample land, the rabbit population reached its height at around 430.

Answer 2

The maximum number of a particular kind of species that a habitat can hold is termed as the carrying capacity of that place. The carrying capacity depends on the availability of resources present in an area. If the population of a species goes beyond the carrying capacity, then the organisms will compete for food and other resources.

When the size of a habitat is increased, the carrying capacity will increase. This is because there will be more space and resources to feed more species. As there will be more resources, even the growth of plants will be more in that area.