What determines the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
a. the number of different types of organisms in an ecosystem
b. the amount of available resources
c. the square mileage it encompasses
d. the ratio of biotic to abiotic factors

The answer is b. the amount of available resources.


A carrying capacity is the maximum size of some population that can survive in the given environment. It represents the number of animals that can live, reproduce, survive in the given area regarding the indefinite sustainability of this area in terms of resources (food, water, habitat, etc.). By becoming close to the carrying capacity, the resources will be less abundant and the animals will be more prone to diseases and predators. As a consequence, the population will crash.

The answer is (b.) the amount of available resources

Carrying capacity refers to when a population can be supported indefinitely by its supporting systems. It has three major factors  determining the limits of the ecosystem. One of these is the amount of available resources. Second, the size of the population. Last, the consumption of each individual in the ecosystem for the resources.