Question

(a) The consequences of a growing human population have been a concern since the times of Thomas Malthus when he proposed that humans could exceed their carrying capacity on Earth. describe the concept of carrying capacity

Answer 1

The given question is incomplete, the complete question is:

Demographic Transition and Clear Cutting a. The consequences of a growing human population have been a concern since the times of Thomas Malthus when he proposed that humans could exceed their carrying capacity on Earth.

i. Describe the concept of carrying capacity for a species. ii. Describe how a change in the availability of a specific resource can affect the carrying capacity of a species

Answer:

i) The maximum population of the specific species, which can be maintained within a particular environment is termed as the carrying capacity of that species. It relies upon the accessibility of water, food, shelter, habitat, and all the other resources.

ii) The defining factor of the carrying capacity of a species is the accessibility of resources. The increase in the population of a species can result in a deficiency of resources and this will eventually cause a reduction in the population of that species. Certain factors like scarcity of food, water, or even because of certain diseases the carrying capacity will reduce resulting in a reduction of the population.