Limiting Factors of an
Ecosystem
Ecosystem Components
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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
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Competitors
Predators
Food
Population Density
Abiotic Factors
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Temperature
pH
Humidity
Wind speed
Sunlight intensity
Nutrients
Amount of available
oxygen
Range of Tolerance
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Every population thrives in an optimal
range of abiotic factors
Beyond this range, there are fewer and
fewer organisms
Tolerance
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Most organisms
are found in the
“optimum range”
Few organisms
are in the “zone
of physiological
stress”
Range of Tolerance - Temperature
Limiting Factors
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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:
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level of soil nutrients
amount of water
light
temperature
In aquatic ecosystems, major limiting factors include
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pH
amount of dissolved oxygen in the water
salinity
Example
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Plant growth is
limited by the
nutrients in the soil
Example
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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
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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
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What are some other examples of
ecosystems and their limiting factors?