Question

of the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus)
graph 5 shows the population growth trend after a change to the amount of mice infected with a parasitic worm--25%

1. is this a limiting factor biotic or abiotic

1. how does the carrying capacity of the ecosystem for the white footed mouse respond to the changes in this limiting factor? compare it to the first graph.

Explanation:

• Question 7: Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem. Parasitic worms are living organisms, so the infection by them is a biotic limiting factor.
• Question 8: Carrying capacity is the maximum number of a species that an ecosystem can support. Since the parasitic worm (a biotic factor) is a limiting factor, it likely reduces the carrying capacity compared to the first graph (where presumably there was less or no parasitic worm infection).

Answer:

1. Biotic
2. The carrying capacity is likely lower (or reduced) compared to the first graph due to the biotic limiting factor (parasitic worm infection).