overpopulation

/ ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the population of an area in too large numbers

overpopulation

/ ō′vər-pŏp′yə-lā′shən /

1. The population of an environment by a particular species in excess of the environment's carrying capacity . The effects of overpopulation can include the depletion of resources, environmental deterioration, and the prevalence of famine and disease.

Example Sentences

Tanton kindles a small fire of twigs inside a metal pitcher, while expounding for the camera about ecology and overpopulation.

From Salon

Last month, Kenya's Tourism Minister Alfred Mutua said the high number of hyena attacks on people and livestock in recent times was the result of the overpopulation of the mammals.

From BBC

From impending euthanasia to glorious safety in a matter of hours, sometimes minutes — these are the extreme lows and highs at Lancaster and other local shelters drowning in the current overpopulation crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

“Twenty years ago, the major problem the managers were having was overpopulation, and the bison weren’t doing well,” says James Derr, a professor in the department of veterinary pathobiology at Texas A&M University.

From National Geographic

I’m a native Californian who loves the state despite all its problems that are rooted in the overpopulation of desirable places to live, most notably the southern coast.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bottleneck
• traffic jam