Question

18
multiple choice 2 points
when a lake experiences algae blooms due to excess fertilizer runoff, which factor has been exceeded?
food chain hierarchy
abiotic equilibrium
density - independent factor
carrying capacity

Explanation:

• Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of organisms an environment can support. When excess fertilizer runoff causes algae blooms, it means the lake's ability to sustain a balanced ecosystem (in terms of normal species populations and ecological interactions) has been exceeded as the algae over - grow.
• Food chain hierarchy is about the order of organisms in a food chain (e.g., producers, primary consumers, etc.) and not directly related to the over - growth due to fertilizer.
• Abiotic equilibrium is a more general and less specific term compared to carrying capacity for this context.
• Density - independent factors (e.g., natural disasters like floods) are not relevant here as fertilizer runoff is more about resource (nutrient) overload affecting the population limit (carrying capacity).

Answer:

Carrying capacity