Population = A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place

Limiting Factors Limiting factors = Aspects of the environment that limit the size a population can reach. Limiting factors can be biotic (living) or abiotic (nonliving) Examples? Limiting factors can also be classified as density-dependent or density-independent. Try to get students to think of their own examples. Here are a few: Biotic: Competition, predation, disease (usually) Abiotic: Climate, natural disasters

Density-Dependent Limiting Factors Density-dependent limiting factors operate more strongly on large, dense populations than on smaller ones. These are factors that can be triggered by an increase in population size, and thus crowding. Ex. Competition, Predation, Parasitism, Disease

Density-Independent Limiting Factors Density-independent limiting factors regulate population growth regardless of its size or density. Nearly all species in an ecosystem are affected equally by density-independent limiting factors. Ex. Weather changes, pollution, natural disasters

A Stable Ecosystem is one that remains relatively constant, with predictable changes in population growth.