carrying capacity

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In ecology, the maximum number of animals of a given species that a particular habitat can support. If the carrying capacity of an ecosystem is exceeded by overpopulation, there will be insufficient resources and one or more species will decline until an equilibrium, or balance of nature, is restored. Similarly, if the number of species in an environment is less than the carrying capacity, the population will tend to increase until it balances the available resources. Human interference frequently causes disruption to the carrying capacity of an area, for instance by the establishment of too many grazing animals on grassland, the over-culling of a species, or the introduction of a non-indigenous species into an area.

Blue and red acknowledge Andorra's links with France. Red and yellow represent the influence of Spain. Effective date: c. 1866. >>