Question

How does the carrying capacity and limiting factors effect on reproductive patterns

Answer 1

As the population nears the carrying capacity, population growth slows significantly. The logistic growth model reflects the natural tension between reproduction, which increases a population's size, and resource availability, which limits a population's size.

Answer 2

Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity is the number of organisms an ecosystem can support. If the population grows past the carrying capacity, then the environment or organisms will begin to suffer. The carrying capacity of an ecosystem is dependent upon the available resources and the needs of the organisms. Some ecosystems have more available water than others; these areas will have higher carrying capacities.

Limiting Factors

Limiting factors are things that restrict the population of an organism. For example, space, water, and food are all limiting factors. Within one ecosystem there is a finite amount of all resources. These limited resources restrict the number of organisms that can survive in one area.

Reproductive Patterns

Carrying capacity and limiting factors can affect reproductive patterns in different ways. If a population is reaching carrying capacity, then population growth could decrease as organisms do not have enough resources to reproduce. Additionally, some ecosystems have wet vs. dry seasons. In these areas, water, a limiting factor, is more available at specific times of the year. So, organisms might be more likely to reproduce as there is more access to limited resources.