In ecology, what is the impact of limited resources on a species' ability to reproduce called?

The concept of carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support based on the available resources such as food, water, and shelter. When resources are limited, the ability of a species to reproduce effectively is constrained because each organism requires a certain amount of resources for survival and reproduction. When the population exceeds the carrying capacity, individuals may compete for scarce resources, leading to a decline in birth rates and an increase in mortality rates. This balance is critical for maintaining the health of ecosystems and ensuring that species do not outstrip their environment's ability to support them. By understanding carrying capacity, ecologists can predict how populations will grow or decline in response to changes in resource availability.