EOC Blitz Review - Limiting Factors Examples

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What is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

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

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What are density-dependent limiting factors?

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Density-dependent limiting factors are factors whose effects on the size or growth of a population vary with the population density, such as competition, predation, and disease.

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What are density-independent limiting factors?

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Density-independent limiting factors are factors that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters, climate changes, and human activities.

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Give an example of a density-dependent limiting factor.

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An example of a density-dependent limiting factor is competition for food among animals in a crowded habitat.

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Give an example of a density-independent limiting factor.

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An example of a density-independent limiting factor is a hurricane that destroys habitats regardless of the population size.

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What is competition in ecological terms?

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Competition is the interaction between organisms or species in which both are harmed as they vie for the same limited resources, such as food, water, or space.

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How does predation affect population dynamics?

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Predation can control the population size of prey species, as predators reduce the number of individuals in the prey population.

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What happens to a prey population when its predator goes extinct?

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When a predator goes extinct, the prey population may increase rapidly due to the lack of natural control.

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What is the competitive exclusion principle?

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The competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist at constant population values; one will outcompete the other.

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What is a niche in ecology?

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A niche is the role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.