Download Limiting Factors

Background Information
What is a Limiting Factor?
 Limiting Factors are…
(two similar definitions)
 conditions of the
environment that
limit the growth of a
species.
 biotic and abiotic
factors that prevent the
continuous growth of a
population.
What is a Limiting Factor?
 Populations would continue to increase if
they had all of the resources they require in
unlimited amounts, but there are always
factors that limit their increase.
 Limiting factors control
population growth.
Let’s list some Limiting Factors!
Limiting factors:
Availability of food, water,
living space (habitat), mates,
nesting sites, and other
resources.
What is Carrying Capacity?
 Because of these limiting factors, each
ecosystem has a capacity for growth
connected to its carrying capacity.
What is Carrying Capacity?
 Carrying capacity is
the number of
individuals of a species
that an ecosystem can
support.
What would happen if there
weren’t limiting factors?
 Exponential growth of populations- this means
populations if not stopped will grow and never reach
carrying capacity.
In the real world
 If new species are introduced to an environment they
will grow exponentially for a while, but will reach the
carrying capacity
of the ecosystem.
Carrying
capacity has
been reached.
In the real world
 When Carrying Capacity is reached
birth rates and death rates balance out.
There are as many organisms in a species
being born as there are dying.
In the real world continued…
 When the population is nearing carrying capacity the
competition among the species for resources increases.
 Ex: Human population.
 Crowed living spaces (apartment buildings)
 Traffic jams
 When individuals live close together disease spreads
easier.
Good or Bad?
Knowing what you know now about
limiting factors take a moment to
write in your Science Journal
whether you believe limiting factors
are a good thing for ecosystems or a
bad thing?