Question

Explain what causes competition in an ecosystem and how it affects population size. Use the terms "carrying capacity" and "limiting factor" in your explanation.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

But in the case of competition, the different species fight for the same food sources and hence there occurs a shortage of food. If the food source is constant in a given environment, the competition will decrease the maximum possible population size and hence the carrying capacity

Answer 2

Competition in an ecosystem is caused by limited resources such as food and space. This affects the carrying capacity and population size. Limiting factors determine the carrying capacity of a population.

Step-by-step explanation:

Competition in an ecosystem is caused by the limited availability of resources such as food and space. This competition affects population size by influencing the carrying capacity, which is the maximum population size that can be sustained in an area.

Limiting factors, such as availability of resources, predation, and disease, determine the carrying capacity of a population.

When resources are abundant, population growth can be exponential. However, as resources become limited, the growth rate of a population slows down, leading to a logistic growth pattern.

The carrying capacity represents the point at which the growth rate stops increasing and the population levels off.

For example, if there is limited food available in an ecosystem, competition among individuals will increase, thereby reducing the population size that can be sustained.