The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat. It is determined by available resources, space, and environmental conditions.
From 'carry' (Old Norse 'kjarr') meaning 'to transport' and 'capacity' from Latin 'capacitas' (ability to hold). The ecological concept developed from earlier use in shipping to describe maximum cargo load.
Carrying capacity isn't a fixed number - it can change based on environmental conditions, technology, and even the behavior of the organisms themselves! Human carrying capacity has increased dramatically through agriculture and technology, but we're still debating what Earth's ultimate limit might be.
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