What would be an outcome of exceeding an environment's carrying capacity?

Exceeding an environment's carrying capacity leads to resource depletion and environmental degradation because the ecosystem cannot support the overpopulation or excessive consumption of resources. Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support without causing harm to itself.

When this limit is surpassed, the natural resources such as water, food, and space become scarce. As a result, the environment starts to deteriorate, leading to habitat loss, declining ecosystems, and diminished biodiversity. This degradation often manifests in issues like soil erosion, deforestation, water shortages, and increased pollution, further compromising the ability of the environment to sustain life. The cycle can continue as the stressed environment struggles to recover, impacting not only the human population but also the wildlife and plants that rely on the ecosystem for survival.