Which action would increase carrying capacity K for a local mouse population?

• A. A parking lot is built in the habitat.
• B. Wetlands are drained.
• C. A main competitor for food is eliminated.
• D. A new species with the same diet is introduced.

Answer: (C)

Carrying capacity is the maximum population an environment can sustain indefinitely given the available resources such as food, water, and shelter. For mice, how much food is available and how many competitors are using that food strongly shape K.

Eliminating a main competitor for food would raise K because it frees up more resources for the mice. With less competition, each mouse would have better access to food, so the population could be supported at a larger size before resources become limiting.

The other actions would tend to lower carrying capacity: building a parking lot reduces habitat and available resources, draining wetlands removes important habitat and food sources, and introducing another species with the same diet increases competition, reducing the resources each mouse can access.