Limiting Factors of an Ecosystem

Ecosystem Components In an ecosystem, there are various factors that affect the survival and health of a population These factors are classified as biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living)

Biotic Factors Competitors Predators Food Population Density

Abiotic Factors Temperature pH Humidity Wind speed Sunlight intensity Nutrients Amount of available oxygen

Range of Tolerance Every population thrives in an optimal range of abiotic factors Beyond this range, there are fewer and fewer organisms

Tolerance Most organisms are found in the “optimum range” Few organisms are in the “zone of physiological stress”

Range of Tolerance - Temperature

Limiting Factors A limiting factor is any abiotic or biotic factor that limits or prevents the growth of a population Limiting factors in terrestrial ecosystems may include: level of soil nutrients amount of water light temperature In aquatic ecosystems, major limiting factors include pH amount of dissolved oxygen in the water salinity

Example Plant growth is limited by the nutrients in the soil

Example The soil is like a barrel with staves of unequal length Each stave represents one nutrient The capacity of the barrel is limited by the length of the shortest stave (Nitrogen in this case)

Example The capacity of the barrel can only be increased by lengthening the shortest stave When that stave is lengthened, another becomes the limiting factor

More Examples What are some other examples of ecosystems and their limiting factors?