Wildlife have four basic needs; food, water, cover, and space. The arrangement of these elements is often equally important. Each species of wildlife has its own specific habitat needs for reproduction and survival. If one of these components is missing, that is the limiting factor for that species.
It is the availability, arrangement, and ratio of these habitat elements on the landscape and influence of proper management that will determine the amount of wildlife (number of species and population of each species) on the property.
This is referred to as the carrying capacity. Since many wildlife species often share habitat types, most common habitat management practices will benefit a number of wildlife species.