How are carrying capacity and limiting factors related?

1 Answer
Sep 20, 2015

The carrying capacity is the overall frequency that habitat can sustain, which is inhibited by the limiting factor

Explanation:

Carrying Capacity is the total frequency of individuals within a community a habitat can sustain.

Limiting Factors are biotic or abiotic factors which limit the carrying capacity.

For example, within a population of foxes, there is enough space and water for 20 individuals. However, the population of rabbits has decreased and now can only sustain 15 individual foxes.

In this circumstance, the limiting factor is the available food (rabbits) for the foxes, and thus the carrying capacity is 15 foxes.