Modeling an Ecosystem's Carrying Capacity

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Carrying Capacity    

Modeling an Ecosystem’s Carrying Capacity

Modeling an Ecosystem’s Carrying Capacity

Jessica Ethier

AP Environmental Science

Abstract

        A carrying capacity is the supportable population of an organism, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available within an ecosystem; it is the size of the population or community that can be supported indefinitely upon the available resources of that ecosystem. The theories that derived from the original studies of Howard Odum, and the recent findings of ecologist involved in such cases as Yellowstone and Isle Royale have lead to an understanding of the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.  

Modeling an Ecosystem’s Carrying Capacity

        A model is considered a , plan, representation, or description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system, or concept. Models can be used in numerous circumstances, such as in modeling a carrying capacity. A carrying capacity is the supportable population of an organism, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available within an ecosystem; it is the size of the population or community that can be supported indefinitely upon the available resources of that ecosystem. Living within the limits of an ecosystem depends on three factors: the amount of resources available in the ecosystem, the size of the population or community, and the amount of resources each individual within the community is consuming. In recent years, scientist have successfully attempted to manipulate the carrying capacity of certain ecosystems by introducing foreign species to the areas; such cases include the introduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park, and the introduction of both wolves and moose to Isle Royale. The theories that derived from the original studies of Howard Odum, and the recent findings of ecologist involved in such cases as Yellowstone and Isle Royale have lead to an understanding of the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.  (Carrying Capacity)

        Ecological models are mathematical representations of ecosystems. Typically, the models simplify complex food webs down to their major components or trophic levels, and they quantify these as either numbers of organisms, biomass, or the concentration an element. Ecosystem models are a development of theoretical ecology that aim to characterize the major dynamics of ecosystems, the models allow scientist to understand how such systems function and allow predictions of their behavior to be made. Because of the complexity of ecosystems, ecosystem models usually simplify the systems to a limited number of practical components. (Ecological Model)

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        Howard Thomas Odum was an American ecologist and professor at the University of Florida. He is best known for his ground-breaking work on ecosystem ecology with his brother Eugene Odum, and for the application of those same principles to energy use in society. Odum argued that society faced many of the same energetic constraints that confront other organisms and systems. He was the first to introduce the concept of energy, the amount of solar energy in the products of the biosphere and human society. His work on ecosystem ecology built important theoretical foundations for the later development of both the ...

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