Published by Australian Academy of Science
Glossary | Population and environment – what's the connection?

arable land. Capable of being used for crop production.

carrying capacity. The maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported in an area. Carrying capacity is usually limited by components of the environment (eg, food, nesting sites, resources)

demographic transition. The change in a population of an industrialised country that occurs when declines in death rates are followed by declines in birth rates. (A characteristic of non-industrial societies is high birth and death rates.)