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At the biosphere level, human CC is uncertain and dynamic, leading to apprehensive rather than practical conclusions. The term CC is widely used among ecological disciplines but remains vague and elusive. We propose the following definition: the CC is \u2018the limit of growth or development of each and all hierarchical levels of biological integration, beginning with the population, and shaped by processes and interdependent relationships between finite resources and the consumers of those resources\u2019. The restrictions of the concept relate to the hierarchical approach. Emergent properties arise at each level, and environmental heterogeneity restrains the measurement and application of the CC. Because the CC entails a myriad of interrelated, ever\u2010changing biotic and abiotic factors, it must not be assumed constant, if we are to derive more effective and realistic management schemes. At the ecosystem level, stability and resilience are dynamic components of the CC. Historical processes that help shape global biodiversity (e.g. continental drift, glaciations) are likely drivers of large\u2010scale changes in the earth's CC. Finally, world population growth and consumption of resources by humanity will necessitate modifications to the paradigm of sustainable development, and demand a clear and fundamental understanding of how CC operates across all biological levels.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1466-822x.2004.00131.x","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2004,10,25]],"date-time":"2004-10-25T15:27:49Z","timestamp":1098718069000},"page":"485-495","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":195,"title":["The carrying capacity of ecosystems"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Pablo","family":"Del Monte\u2010Luna","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Barry W.","family":"Brook","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Manuel J.","family":"Zetina\u2010Rej\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Victor H.","family":"Cruz\u2010Escalona","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2004,10,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_5_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1440-1703.2001.00372.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/2269539"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0077-7579(95)90047-0"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.7701342"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/gj.877"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_7_1","volume-title":"On the dynamics of exploited fish populations","author":"Beverton R.J.H.","year":"1957"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1147\/rd.162.0101"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1090795"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0272-7714(90)90030-U"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1310565"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1075880"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3800(92)90016-8"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1890\/1051-0761(1998)8[S104:CIMOAE]2.0.CO;2"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/256302a0"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.7618100"},{"key":"e_1_2_5_17_1","unstructured":"Cohen J.E.(1995b)How many people can the earth support?WWW Norton USA.http:\/\/www.bemidjistate.edu\/PeoplEnv\/carrycap.html. 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