SCIENCE
ECOLOGY
|
Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
|
|
|
It would increase a small amount since the insect population would decrease.
|
|
|
It would remain about the same since the finches would change to a different diet.
|
|
|
It would decrease a lot because there is less to eat.
|
|
|
None of the above
|
Detailed explanation-1: -One species of Galapagos finches, the cactus finch, eats insects off cactus plants. A disease kills off most of the cacti in the Galapagos Islands. Which of these most likely would happen to the carrying capacity of the island? It would decrease considerably since the finches are specifically adapted to their niche.
Detailed explanation-2: -The maximum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support for the long term is the carrying capacity (K).
Detailed explanation-3: -If a population exceeds carrying capacity, the ecosystem may become unsuitable for the species to survive. If the population exceeds the carrying capacity for a long period of time, resources may be completely depleted. Populations may die off if all of the resources are exhausted.
Detailed explanation-4: -Limiting factors are resources or other factors in the environment that can lower the population growth rate. Limiting factors include a low food supply and lack of space. Competition for resources like food and space cause the growth rate to stop increasing, so the population levels off.
Detailed explanation-5: -Some examples of limiting factors are biotic, like food, mates, and competition with other organisms for resources. Others are abiotic, like space, temperature, altitude, and amount of sunlight available in an environment.