How does carrying capacity work? What happens to a consumer when what they eat decreases by half?
Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that can be supported by a given environment. When a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment, it can lead to resource depletion, competition for resources, and ultimately a decline in population size.
When a consumer's food supply decreases by half, it can have significant impacts on the population. The consumer may experience a decrease in population size due to increased competition for resources, reduced reproductive success, and increased susceptibility to disease and predation. In some cases, the consumer may also adapt to the new food supply by changing its diet or behavior to better utilize the available resources. Overall, the impact of a decrease in food supply on a consumer population will depend on a variety of factors, including the species' life history, behavior, and ecological interactions with other species in the ecosystem.