Question

how are changes in populations related to the availability of an ecosystem’s resources?
a. large populations need the same amount of resources as small populations
b. population sizes are limited by the amount of resources that are available
c. changes in population are independent of the availability of an ecosystem’s resources
d. as populations grow, ecosystems produce more resources in order to support the larger population

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Large populations need more resources than small ones, so this is incorrect.
• Option B: In an ecosystem, resources like food, water, and space are limited. The size of a population is constrained by how much of these resources are available (this is related to the concept of carrying capacity). This makes sense.
• Option C: Population changes are closely tied to resource availability (e.g., more resources can support a larger population, fewer can limit it), so this is wrong.
• Option D: Ecosystems don't "produce more resources" in response to population growth; resources are limited and follow natural cycles or availability, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Population sizes are limited by the amount of resources that are available