Final answer:
Having a smaller carrying capacity increases competition at lower densities because resources become limited more quickly, leading to intensified intraspecific competition for survival and reproduction among individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
How does having a smaller K (carrying capacity) impact competition between individuals? The correct answer is that it increases competition at lower densities. A smaller carrying capacity means that the environment can support fewer individuals, leading to increased intraspecific competition for resources even at lower population densities. This is because with limited resources, individuals must compete more intensely to survive and reproduce, and this competition can occur even when the population is not near its maximum size – this intensified competition is most evident when the population size is close to K. As populations approach this smaller carrying capacity, resources become limited, which can reduce growth rates and potentially lead to increased mortality due to factors such as predation, disease, accumulation of waste, and difficulty in finding mates.