Question

Ecological factors, which prevent a species from producing at its maximum rate is termed as

• A. Survival curve
• B. Ecological drift
• C. Environmental resistance
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Environmental resistance

Maximum reproductive capacity or biotic potential is realised when environmental resources are non limiting and conditions favour minimum mortality. However, environment has a limiting effect on the rise of population. The sum of abiotic (e.g., temperature, water, space) and biotic factors (e.g., food, competition, disease, predation), which checks the rise in population size and prevents the species to realise its biotic potential is called as environmental resistance. It is inversely related to the difference between carrying capacity and number of existing population.