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Ecologists define carrying capacity as the population of a given species that can be supported
indefinitely in a defined habitat without permanently damaging the ecosystem upon which it is dependent.
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.
Today, we are reaching the limits of agricultural production in many ways. The question has now become whether
the world population can be constrained and whether we can produce enough food just in time.
Also whether the future situation can be maintained sustainably. The way an ecosystem reacts to a population
exceeding its limits, is by rather sudden collapse.
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Exposed aerial roots in the wetlands of the Black River
Morass.
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