Limiting Factors

​What are they in a nutshell?

They are reasons that may prevent a population of a species from thriving and reproducing. Having said this, it is important to understand that limiting factors will sometimes decrease population sizes, while other populations may thrive and even OVERPOPULATE an area.

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​WHAT ARE LIMITING FACTORS?

​All living things need food, water, shelter and space to survive. As long as organisms have all of these things available to them their population will continue to grow. However, populations cannot grow forever. Some form of environmental resistance will stop the population’s growth. The form of environmental resistance is called a limiting factor since it limits the population. However, limiting factors may also increase a population.

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​REMEMBER!!!

Limiting factors will either LIMIT or INCREASE the size of a population. The ideal size of a population is

• The carrying capacity number (the number of individuals that​ an area can support) OR

• Slightly BELOW the carrying capacity number

• A population size that exceeds the carrying capacity number may damage the health of a local ecosystem. When there are too many individual of a species in a given area, the area is OVERPOPULATED! Too few individuals of a species, the area is UNDERPOPULATED

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​Density-independent factors have an impact on the population, whether the population is large or small, growing or shrinking. The size of a population does not matter! The limiting factor will effect a species population whether there are 1 individual or 100s of individuals.

​Independent

Limiting factors where the effects on the size or growth of a population vary with the density of the population itself.

​Dependent

Density Dependent and Independent Factors!

​Density-independent factors are normally abiotic factors.

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• Weather, natural disasters, altitude, pollution, ​human activity such as mining or urban construction (building of roads and structures)

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​Independent

Density Dependent factors are normally BIOTIC factors- having to do with living things.

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• Food availability, predation, ​competition between individuals for food and shelter.

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​Dependent

Density Dependent and Independent Factors!