Environmental changes can really shake things up when it comes to how animals and plants grow and live. Here are some key ways they do this:
Resource Availability: When the environment changes—like when there's a drought (not enough rain) or a flood (too much water)—it can affect things like food, water, and homes. For example, if there's a long drought, there may not be enough food for plant-eating animals. This can lead to fewer of these animals, which also affects animals that eat them.
Carrying Capacity: Each environment can only support a certain number of living things. This limit is called carrying capacity. If environmental changes lower the resources available, the carrying capacity goes down too. This means there will be fewer animals or plants until the population settles at a new, stable number.
Growth Patterns: When there are plenty of resources, populations can grow very fast. This is called exponential growth. But if things change and resources become limited, the growth slows down. It then follows a different pattern called logistic growth, where the size eventually stabilizes near the carrying capacity.
Adaptations: Over time, some species might change to better fit new environmental conditions. This can affect how many survive and how often they reproduce.
Understanding these relationships helps explain why some groups of living things do really well, while others have a tough time!
Environmental changes can really shake things up when it comes to how animals and plants grow and live. Here are some key ways they do this:
Resource Availability: When the environment changes—like when there's a drought (not enough rain) or a flood (too much water)—it can affect things like food, water, and homes. For example, if there's a long drought, there may not be enough food for plant-eating animals. This can lead to fewer of these animals, which also affects animals that eat them.
Carrying Capacity: Each environment can only support a certain number of living things. This limit is called carrying capacity. If environmental changes lower the resources available, the carrying capacity goes down too. This means there will be fewer animals or plants until the population settles at a new, stable number.
Growth Patterns: When there are plenty of resources, populations can grow very fast. This is called exponential growth. But if things change and resources become limited, the growth slows down. It then follows a different pattern called logistic growth, where the size eventually stabilizes near the carrying capacity.
Adaptations: Over time, some species might change to better fit new environmental conditions. This can affect how many survive and how often they reproduce.
Understanding these relationships helps explain why some groups of living things do really well, while others have a tough time!