Final answer:
Increasing the amount of a limiting nutrient in a pond can affect the carrying capacity of the pond by causing an increase in population size and subsequent decrease in carrying capacity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Increasing the amount of a limiting nutrient in a pond can affect the carrying capacity of the pond by causing an increase in the population size of organisms. Limiting nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are essential for phytoplankton growth in lakes and ponds. When there is a large input of these nutrients, the growth of algae skyrockets, resulting in an algal bloom. This can reduce light penetration in the water and lead to oxygen depletion, potentially causing the death of organisms that require oxygen. As a result, the carrying capacity of the pond may decrease.