Introduction - Natural Resources
Carrying Capacity & Natural Resources
Natural resources are part of ecosystems.
Carrying capacity: The populations of organisms are determined by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. This means that populations are controlled by living things, such as predators and available food. Populations are also controlled by nonliving things, such as available water and available space.
We say that an environment can "support" or "carry" a certain amount of organisms depending on these available resources. If an environment becomes to crowded, it can become damaged. In other words, there is a limit for how many organisms an environment can support. The total number of organisms that a particular environment can support is its carrying capacity.
We say that an environment can "support" or "carry" a certain amount of organisms depending on these available resources. If an environment becomes to crowded, it can become damaged. In other words, there is a limit for how many organisms an environment can support. The total number of organisms that a particular environment can support is its carrying capacity.
Carrying capacity is different for every ecosystem, and for each population found in an ecosystem. For example, deserts have a low carrying capacity for most plants because deserts do not have a lot of water. But a desert's carrying capacity for plants that need little water is high.
Biotic and abiotic components are natural resources— elements in the environment that are essential for survival. Water -an abiotic component- is a natural resource for a mouse in the desert. The mouse -a biotic component- is also a natural resource (food) for a desert snake. Populations are dependent upon these natural resources, so carrying capacity is related to natural resources in the environment.
Biotic and abiotic components are natural resources— elements in the environment that are essential for survival. Water -an abiotic component- is a natural resource for a mouse in the desert. The mouse -a biotic component- is also a natural resource (food) for a desert snake. Populations are dependent upon these natural resources, so carrying capacity is related to natural resources in the environment.