Carrying capacity is defined as the maximum population size that the environment can sustain indefinitely.

• A. The maximum population size that the environment can sustain indefinitely.
• B. The minimum viable population size for persistence.
• C. The average number of offspring per individual.
• D. The rate of immigration into a population.

Answer: (A)

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that the environment can support indefinitely given the available resources and space. It reflects the balance between resource supply and demand; when a population nears this limit, resources become limiting, growth slows, and the population tends to stabilize around that size. This concept is different from the minimum viable population, which is about the smallest number needed for persistence, and from reproduction rate (average offspring per individual) or immigration rate (incoming individuals). So the definition that describes the long-term, sustainable maximum size best captures carrying capacity.