What can happen if the carrying capacity of an area is exceeded?

Responses

Individuals will die or move away.
Individuals will die or move away.

Individuals will move into the area.
Individuals will move into the area.

The population’s birthrate increases.
The population’s birthrate increases.

The population’s deathrate decreases.

1 answer

If the carrying capacity of an area is exceeded, the most likely consequence is:

Individuals will die or move away.

When a population surpasses the carrying capacity, resources (such as food, water, and shelter) become scarce, leading to increased competition among individuals. This can result in higher mortality rates, as not all individuals can sustain themselves, or cause some individuals to migrate to areas with more resources. The other options listed (moving into the area, increased birthrate, and decreased deathrate) are generally unlikely to occur in such a scenario.