Carrying capacity environmental limit – UGC NET Question

Carrying capacity is defined as the maximum population size that a given environment can sustain indefinitely. It depends on resource availability and the ecosystem’s ability to absorb wastes. The stem emphasises this sustainable support level without long term degradation,which directly reflects the concept. Therefore carrying capacity is the right term.

Option A:
Biotic potential refers to the maximum reproductive capacity of a population under ideal conditions without environmental constraints. It does not account for resource limitations,so it is different from the sustainable limit described in the question.

Option B:
Carrying capacity integrates both resource supply and population demand to identify an equilibrium level. When population exceeds this limit,environmental degradation and resource shortages occur. This explanation fits exactly with the notion of a sustainable maximum in the stem.

Option C:
Optimum yield usually relates to harvesting strategies that maximise long term catch or production from a resource system. It is applied to fisheries or forests rather than to population size per se. Thus it is not the best label for the concept here.

Option D:
Population density simply measures the number of individuals per unit area or volume. High density may or may not exceed carrying capacity. Therefore it cannot by itself indicate the sustainable maximum described in the question.