Which of the following best describes an ecosystem's carrying capacity?

An ecosystem's carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that the environment can sustainably support without degradation of resources. This concept is crucial in ecology as it helps determine how many organisms can coexist in a given habitat while maintaining ecological balance.

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it can lead to overconsumption of resources, habitat degradation, and ultimately a population crash, as resources become insufficient to support the larger population. This highlights the importance of understanding carrying capacity for effective wildlife management and conservation efforts, including species preservation and habitat restoration.

The other options do not accurately capture this concept. The minimum population needed for a species' survival focuses on the viability of a species rather than the broader capacity of the ecosystem. The number of habitats in an ecosystem does not relate to how many individuals the environment can support, and the average lifespan of a species is unrelated to the concept of carrying capacity, as it deals with demographic factors rather than environmental limits.