Population Dynamics
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population size an environment can sustain indefinitely given available resources. The population level at which births equal deaths.
Biological Context
Carrying capacity (K) depends on food, water, space, and other limiting resources. It's not fixed—it changes with seasons, climate, and technology. Populations near K experience intense competition. Understanding carrying capacity helps predict sustainable populations and resource limits.
Business Application
Markets have carrying capacity too. A niche can only support a certain number of competitors before resources become too scarce for all to survive.