Question

1. which answer best explains carrying capacity?

a. the maximum number of wolves in a national park can support.
b. exponential growth
c. the minimum number of bees in an area.
d. the minimum number of trees in an area.

1. a(n)__________factor keeps the size of the population down.

a. limiting
b. increasing
c. positive
d. max

1. which species has not reached its carrying capacity yet?
2. which species has reached its carrying capacity first?

Explanation:

• Question 21: Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support. Option A correctly defines it as the maximum number of wolves a national park can support. Options B (exponential growth) is a type of population growth pattern, not carrying capacity. Options C and D mention minimum numbers, which is incorrect as carrying capacity is a maximum.
• Question 22: A limiting factor is something that restricts the growth of a population, keeping its size down. Increasing factor would do the opposite. Positive factor is too vague in this context. "Max" is not a relevant term for this biological concept.
• Question 23: Species 1's population is still increasing, which means it has not reached its carrying capacity (where the population stabilizes). Species 2, 3, and 4 have populations that are either stabilizing or have stabilized.
• Question 24: Species 4's population stabilizes first compared to the other species (its population levels off earliest among them), indicating it reached its carrying capacity first.

Answer:

• 21. A. The maximum number of wolves in a national park can support.
• 22. A. Limiting
• 23. A. Species 1
• 24. D. Species 4