Answer:
A. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported by a particular environment without degrading the environment's ability to sustain future generations of that species. It is determined by a range of biotic and abiotic factors, such as food availability, water, shelter, predation, disease, and other limiting resources.
B. When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, the environment becomes unable to provide the necessary resources to support the excess individuals, and the population size decreases. This can occur through various mechanisms, such as competition for resources, predation, disease, or migration. As resources become scarce, the population may experience a decline in birth rate, an increase in death rate, or both. This can result in a population crash or die-off, which can have cascading effects on other species and the entire ecosystem. Therefore, it is important for species to stay within their carrying capacity to maintain a sustainable balance with their environment.
Step-by-step explanation: