Final answer:
Carrying capacity is the maximum size of a population that can survive using the available resources. It can vary up or down depending on factors such as resource availability, environmental conditions, and competition with other species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carrying capacity is the maximum size of a population that can survive using the available resources. It represents the population size in which the birth rate equals the death rate and the resources in the environment are sufficient to support the population.
The carrying capacity can vary up or down depending on various factors such as availability of resources, environmental conditions, and competition with other species. For example, a population of deer may have a higher carrying capacity during a season with abundant food and water, but a lower carrying capacity during a drought.