On what factors the population of a species depends ?

Options

A. Biotic potential
B. Carrying capacity of environment
C. pollution
D. both (1) and (2)

Answer

To answer the question "On what factors does the population of a species depend?", we can break down the solution into several key steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Biotic Potential**:
- Biotic potential refers to the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under optimal environmental conditions. This means how many offspring an organism can produce if there are no limiting factors.
- If the biotic potential is high, the species can reproduce more, leading to an increase in population size. Conversely, if the biotic potential is low, fewer offspring will be produced, resulting in a decrease in population size.

2. **Understanding Carrying Capacity**:
- Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support. This is determined by the availability of resources such as food, water, shelter, and space.
- If the population exceeds the carrying capacity, the environment cannot support the additional individuals, leading to competition for resources, which can decrease the population size.

3. **Interrelationship Between Biotic Potential and Carrying Capacity**:
- The population size of a species is influenced by both its biotic potential and the carrying capacity of its environment. A species with high biotic potential can increase its population rapidly, but if the carrying capacity is low, the population will eventually stabilize or decline.
- Therefore, both factors are crucial in determining the overall population dynamics of a species.

4. **Conclusion**:
- In summary, the population of a species depends on two main factors: biotic potential and carrying capacity. Both of these factors interact to influence how a population grows or shrinks over time.

### Final Answer:
The population of a species depends on:
1. **Biotic Potential**: The ability of the organism to reproduce.
2. **Carrying Capacity**: The maximum number of individuals that the environment can support.