Question

1. recall that carrying capacity is affected by limiting factors. identify potential limiting factors that scientists could investigate to understand the carrying capacity of african wild dogs.

part ii: does the size of the dogs territory determine how many african wild dogs can live there? african wild dogs are known to hunt and roam over large areas of land called territories. scientists wondered how territory size could limit pack size. they wanted to use this information to figure out how many dogs the new reserve in malawi could support. the graph below shows the data they collected comparing pack size to territory size.

Explanation:

• Food availability: African wild dogs need a sufficient amount of prey (such as antelopes) to survive. If there is less food, the population will decline as dogs may starve or have less energy for reproduction.
• Predation pressure: Larger predators like lions and hyenas may kill African wild dogs. Higher predation would reduce the wild - dog population.
• Disease prevalence: Diseases like rabies or canine distemper can spread among the wild - dog population. An outbreak of a serious disease can lead to a significant decrease in numbers.
• Water sources: Adequate water is essential for the dogs' survival. Limited water availability can restrict where they can live and hunt, potentially reducing the population.
• Human - wildlife conflict: Encroachment of human settlements into their habitat can lead to direct killing (e.g., as pests) or destruction of their hunting grounds.

Answer:

• Limiting Factor: Food availability; Predicted Effect: Less food → starvation, lower reproduction → population decline.
• Limiting Factor: Predation pressure; Predicted Effect: More predators → more wild - dog deaths → population decline.
• Limiting Factor: Disease prevalence; Predicted Effect: Disease outbreak → higher mortality → population decline.
• Limiting Factor: Water sources; Predicted Effect: Limited water → restricted habitat use → population decline.
• Limiting Factor: Human - wildlife conflict; Predicted Effect: Habitat destruction/killing → population decline.