Question

The carrying capacity of a population is determined by its
A. Population growth rate
B. Natality
C. Mortality
D. Limiting resources

Answer 1

Carrying capacity can be defined as the average species population size in a particular environment. The population of the specific size is restricted by certain environmental factors like adequate food, water, shelter, and mates. If these factors are not met the size of the population will decrease until the resources are available.

Complete answer: Population growth rate-Population growth rate is the increase in the individual’s number in the population. Globally the total population is around eighty-three million annually or 1.1 percent per year.
Natality- Natality is the birth rate. Along with the mortality rate natality is used to calculate the population growth. These are the key factors to determine whether a population is decreasing or increasing or stable.
Mortality- This refers to the state of being dead. In other terms, it can be said as the death rate or the number of deaths in a particular group of people in a definite period.
Limiting resources- These are the factors which have limiting resources in the environment that can lower the population growth rate. The limiting factors are space or shortage of food. These factors can lower birth rates and increase the death rate and will lead to emigration.
Hence the correct answer is option D, limiting resources.

Note: The environment carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of organisms that it will support. This is usually denoted by a letter K and is determined by the limiting factors like shelter and food. Other limiting factors are water, light, minerals, or nutrients, the ability of the ecosystem to recycle nutrients.