3.

"The carrying capacity of a lake equals 250 minnows."

Can less than 250 minnows live in this lake?

Can more than 250 minnows live in this lake?

Let's say that there are 240 minnows in this lake when the amount of resources in this lake

decreased, and the carrying capacity drops from 250 to 200 minnows. What will happen to

the minnow population? Why will this happen?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Minnow population will decrease because now it is more than the new carrying capacity

Explanation:

Carrying capacity is the maximum size of a population that an area can hold, given its current resources and environment. As a population reaches the carrying capacity of its habitat, its net growth becomes zero.

1. The carrying capacity for this lake is 250 minnows so maximum 250 minnows can survive in this habitat comfortably. Hence, less than 250 minnows can live here.

2. Since the carrying capacity is 250, more than 250 minnows will not be able to survive in the lake. There will be competition for resources and the population will not show a net increase.

3. Since the original carrying capacity for this population was 250 minnows, 240 minnows were able to survive here. However, when the capacity has reduced to 200, presence of 240 minnows has already overshot it. As a result, the population will start declining till it becomes equal to the new carrying capacity i. e. 200 minnows.