What is meant by carrying capacity in an ecosystem?

Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the ecosystem. This concept is essential in ecology because it considers the availability of resources, such as food, water, shelter, and space, that organisms need for survival. When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it can lead to resource depletion, decreased individual health, increased mortality, and a decline in the population.

In other words, carrying capacity is about the balance between population and the environment's ability to support that population over time. It plays a critical role in understanding population dynamics, resource management, and conservation efforts within ecosystems.