When is population size considered to be limited?

The concept of carrying capacity is crucial in understanding population dynamics. Population size is considered to be limited when it reaches its carrying capacity, which is the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support. This capacity is determined by various factors, including availability of resources such as food, water, space, and other environmental conditions.

When a population nears its carrying capacity, competition for these limited resources increases, leading to a stabilization of growth rates. If a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it may lead to resource depletion, increased mortality rates, and ultimately a decline in population size. Thus, understanding that carrying capacity defines the limits of population growth is pivotal in ecology and environmental science.