In 1944 reindeer were introduced to an optimal habitat on St

In 1944, reindeer were introduced to an optimal habitat on St. Mathew Island in the Bering Sea. The population grew exponentially until the winter of 1963-64, when the population dropped dramatically. The reindeer population dropped because they exceeded their carrying capacity intrinsic rate of increase predator ratio growth rate

Solution

Carrying capacity is defined as the maximum number of individuals that can be supported sustainably by a given environment. If carrying capacity is exceeded, the population declines because its environment can no longer support the excess numbers.

In many situations this can happen very rapidly because excessive demand degrades or even devastates the environment and there is a sudden and catastrophic feedback effect. Such a feedback effect can not only eradicate those numbers of population in excess of the carrying capacity of an environment but under certain circumstances it can cause the near extinction of an entire species. Similar is the case with St. Mathew island reindeer. The correct answer is option A(carrying capacity).