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What's the difference between limiting factor and carrying capacity

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Answer:

Limiting factors and carrying capacity are connected to the number of organisms in an ecosystem.

Limiting Factor

A limiting factor is any part of an environment that controls a population within one area. For example, available food is a limiting factor. There is not unlimited food, so it limits how many organisms can survive in one area. Organisms can only survive if there is enough food for them. Space is also a limiting factor because there is only so much space for the population. Overall, any factor that forces the organisms to compete or that limits resources is a limiting factor.

Carrying Capacity

The carrying capacity of an area is the total number of organisms that an ecosystem can safely support. For example, one ecosystem might have a carrying capacity of 5,000 bunnies. This means that the ecosystem cannot sustain more than 5,000 bunnies. When a population begins to near the carrying capacity, birth rate will decrease or death rate will increase. Since resources start to dwindle as carrying capacity is reached, it becomes more difficult for the population to grow.

The limiting factors of an ecosystem create the carrying capacity. For instance, if there is only enough food to feed 5,000 bunnies, then the carrying capacity will be 5,000.

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