Carrying Capacity
Kate Anderson
6 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers population dynamics within AP Environmental Science. Key concepts include population, carrying capacity (K), population overshoot, and population crash (die-off). It explains exponential and logistic growth curves, and the relationship between resource availability and population size. Practice questions covering these concepts are included.
#AP Environmental Science: Population Dynamics - Night Before Review
Hey there, future AP Environmental Science superstar! Let's get you feeling confident and ready to ace this exam. We're going to zoom through population dynamics, focusing on what you really need to know. Let's make it stick!
#Population Ecology Basics
#What's a Population?
- A population is a group of the same species living in a specific area. Think of it as a local club for a single type of organism. 👯
- Each population has unique needs based on its size, how it reproduces, and its survival patterns.
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Carrying Capacity (K)
- Imagine a party. There's only so much pizza and space! Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support with its available resources. It's the limit! 🍕
- Resources include food, water, habitat, sunlight, and other essentials. If any of these are limited, the population can't grow indefinitely.
Think of carrying capacity as the "K" for "Keep it at this level." It's the ecosystem's way of saying, "That's enough!"
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Population Overshoot
- Population overshoot happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity. It's like inviting too many people to that party – chaos ensues! 😬
- This leads to resource depletion, environmental damage, and increased competition.
- Overshoot is not sustainable; it's a temporary state that usually ends badly for the population.
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Population Crash (Die-off)
- A population crash ...
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