Orchids are flowering plants that depend on bees for pollination. A population of orchids in a rainforest has reached its carrying capacity. The size of the rainforest's bee population is a limiting factor of the orchid population. What will happen to the orchids' carrying capacity if the rainforest's bee population decreases?

A.
The carrying capacity will increase because the level of the limiting factor decreases.
B.
The carrying capacity will not change because it is a constant property of a species.
C.
The carrying capacity will not change because it is a constant property of an ecosystem.
D.
The carrying capacity will decrease because the level of the limiting factor decreases.

Question

Orchids are flowering plants that depend on bees for pollination. A population of orchids in a rainforest has reached its carrying capacity. The size of the rainforest's bee population is a limiting factor of the orchid population. What will happen to the orchids' carrying capacity if the rainforest's bee population decreases?

A. 
The carrying capacity will increase because the level of the limiting factor decreases.
B. 
The carrying capacity will not change because it is a constant property of a species.
C. 
The carrying capacity will not change because it is a constant property of an ecosystem.
D. 
The carrying capacity will decrease because the level of the limiting factor decreases.

Vocaloid · Answer

Recall that a limiting factor **limits** how much a population can grow. The orchids need the bee population to sustain the orchid population. If the bee population decreases, how do you think that will affect the orchid population? Will the orchid population increase or decrease?