Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Overpopulation refers to a situation where the number of organisms in a particular habitat exceeds the carrying capacity, leading to resource depletion and environmental degradation.
This is the rate at which a population increases in size if there are no density-dependent forces regulating the population. It's like tracking how quickly guests arrive at your party.
These are environmental conditions that limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population within an ecosystem. They're like rules set by the host (like only 50 guests allowed) that control how big the party can get.