Answer: The correct answer for the blank is-
individuals.
Carrying capacity for a particular species can be described as the maximum number of organisms/ individuals in a population that can be supported by an ecosystem.
It varies from species to species in a habitat and is guided by several factors ( such as availability of food resources, social requirements, shelter for the species)
There is an increase in the average size of population below carrying capacity ( as resources are abundant) while population size tends to decline ( due to depletion of resources) above carrying capacity
