Answer:
Environmental stressors such as temperature and drought can significantly affect an ecosystem's carrying capacity, which refers to the maximum number of organisms an ecosystem can support without degrading its resources. The impact of these stressors on the carrying capacity can be either positive or negative.
Negative influence:
For example, drought can reduce the availability of water, which is essential for many organisms to survive and reproduce. This can lead to a decline in the carrying capacity of an ecosystem as the population size of dependent organisms reduces. In such cases, the organisms that rely heavily on water are more vulnerable to extinction, reducing the number of species.
Positive influence:
On the other hand, temperature changes can also positively influence an ecosystem's carrying capacity. For example, warmer temperatures can stimulate the growth and reproduction of some organisms, increasing the availability of food for other animals. This can lead to an increase in the carrying capacity of an ecosystem. Additionally, some organisms are better adapted to live in warmer temperatures, which can lead to increased diversity within the ecosystem.
In conclusion, environmental stressors like temperature and drought can impact the carrying capacity of an ecosystem positively or negatively, depending on the specific context.
Step-by-step explanation: