Carrying Capacity

quantity of items a container can hold; maximum number of people a vehicle can accomodate; amount of animals a region can hold; number of living things that can live for long periods in a given area without causing harm to the environment (Ecology)

The equilibrium maximum of the population of an organism is known as the ecosystem's carrying capacity for that organism. Generally it is the supportable population of an organism, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available within an ecosystem. For the human population more complex variables such as sanitation and medical care are sometimes considered as part of the necessary infrastructure.
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1. In recreation management, the amount of use a recreation area can sustain without loss of quality. 2. In wildlife management, the maximum number of animals an area can support during a given period.

The maximum stocking rate for livestock possible without damaging vegetation or related resources. Carrying capacity may vary from year to year on the same area, due to fluctuating forage production. Used by the government in decisions about how many livestock will be allowed on an allotment on public lands.
  

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