Answer: d. fewer predators
Carrying capacity is the property of an ecosystem, which indicates the maximum number of individuals of a given species that an ecosystem can sustain on the basis of availability of resources like food, shelter in that particular ecosystem. Carrying capacity of an ecosystem for prey population can be affected by natural calamities like drought and habitat destruction as these conditions will decrease the number of individuals from prey populations as these prey individuals can migrate to other regions in search of food and shelter. Hence, this will directly reduce the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. primary producers can be a food source for prey species, if the number of primary producers decreases in an ecosystem then, prey species will also decrease.Hence,the limited number of primary producers will reduce the carrying capacity of an ecosystem for prey species. Predator population prevents the surplus growth of prey population, hence maintains the balance in nature. Predator species can limit the population of prey species. Here, fewer predators will not reduce the carrying capacity of an ecosystem for a particular prey species as their population is low.
