Which term describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustain?

The term that describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support is known as carrying capacity. This concept is fundamental in ecology, as it helps to understand the balance between the resources available in an ecosystem and the demands imposed by a population. Carrying capacity takes into account various factors such as food availability, habitat space, water supply, and environmental conditions, which all play a critical role in determining the upper limit of the population that can be maintained without causing environmental degradation.

For instance, if a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it may lead to resource depletion, resulting in a decline in the population due to starvation, disease, or migration. Understanding this concept is vital for conservation efforts, wildlife management, and sustainable resource use. The other terms mentioned do not specifically denote this concept: the biological limit relates more generally to physiological or environmental restrictions, ecological footprint refers to the impact of a population on the environment, and population threshold is less commonly used in ecological discussions concerning carrying capacity.