Carrying capacity is the maximum size of a wildlife population that a habitat can sustain, and exceeding it can cause habitat damage.

Carrying capacity is the maximum size of a wildlife population that a habitat can sustain, and exceeding it can cause habitat damage.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. It is the maximum size of population that the habitat can sustain
• D. It refers to the number of habitats

Answer: (B)

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size a habitat can sustain over time given the available resources such as food, water, cover, and space. The statement is true because when a population exceeds this limit, resources become limiting and competition increases, leading to poorer individual condition, lower reproduction, and ultimately habitat degradation from overuse (for example, overgrazing or trampling that reduces vegetation and damages soils). This illustrates why exceeding carrying capacity can harm the habitat itself, not just the animals.

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size a habitat can sustain over time given the available resources such as food, water, cover, and space. The statement is true because when a population exceeds this limit, resources become limiting and competition increases, leading to poorer individual condition, lower reproduction, and ultimately habitat degradation from overuse (for example, overgrazing or trampling that reduces vegetation and damages soils). This illustrates why exceeding carrying capacity can harm the habitat itself, not just the animals.