Carrying capacity is

• A. The point where population size levels off
• B. The maximum possible population in the universe
• C. The rate of population growth
• D. The genetic variability of a population

Answer: (A)

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support over the long term without degrading the habitat. When a population grows and resources like food, water, and space become limited, competition increases, reproduction may slow, and mortality can rise. This forces the growth to slow and eventually level off as the population stabilizes near that carrying capacity. You can often see this as the tipping point in a logistic growth pattern, where an initial rapid increase slows and the population size starts to stay relatively constant. Remember, carrying capacity can shift if conditions change, such as those resources becoming more available or scarcer. It’s not about the universe’s maximum population, nor the rate of growth, nor genetic variability.