Limiting Factors

Front

What is a limiting factor?

Back

A limiting factor is an environmental condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population within an ecosystem.

Front

What are density-independent limiting factors?

Back

Density-independent limiting factors are environmental factors that affect populations regardless of their density, such as natural disasters, climate changes, and human activities.

Front

What are density-dependent limiting factors?

Back

Density-dependent limiting factors are factors that affect population growth in relation to the population's density, such as competition, predation, and disease.

Front

Give an example of a density-independent limiting factor.

Back

An example of a density-independent limiting factor is a flood or a drought.

Front

Give an example of a density-dependent limiting factor.

Back

An example of a density-dependent limiting factor is competition for resources among individuals in a population.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

How does competition affect population dynamics?

Back

Competition can limit population growth by reducing the availability of resources such as food, water, and space.

Front

What is the relationship between carrying capacity and population growth?

Back

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, resources become limited, leading to a decline in population size.

Front

What role do predators play in population dynamics?

Back

Predators can control the population size of prey species, thus influencing the overall balance of the ecosystem.

Front

How can human activities act as density-independent limiting factors?

Back

Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and urbanization can alter habitats and affect populations regardless of their density.