Limiting Factors

Front

What are limiting factors in an ecosystem?

Back

Limiting factors are environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population within an ecosystem.

Front

Define Density Independent Limiting Factors.

Back

Density Independent Limiting Factors are environmental factors that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters or climate changes.

Front

Give an example of a Density Independent Limiting Factor.

Back

An example of a Density Independent Limiting Factor is a severe drought that reduces water availability for all organisms in an area.

Front

What are Density Dependent Limiting Factors?

Back

Density Dependent Limiting Factors are factors that affect population size in relation to the population's density, such as competition, predation, and disease.

Front

How do Density Dependent Limiting Factors affect a population?

Back

They can lead to a decrease in population size as resources become limited and competition increases.

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

What happens when a population exceeds its carrying capacity?

Back

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity, Density Dependent Limiting Factors will start to occur, leading to a decline in the population.

Front

What is an example of a Density Dependent Limiting Factor?

Back

An example of a Density Dependent Limiting Factor is the spread of disease in a crowded population.

Front

How does a natural disaster impact population size?

Back

Natural disasters, such as floods or wildfires, are Density Independent Limiting Factors that can drastically reduce population sizes regardless of density.

Front

What role does competition play in population dynamics?

Back

Competition for resources among individuals in a population can limit growth and lead to a decrease in population size.