Limiting Factors

• Limiting Factors: Determine the carrying capacity of an environment for a species.
• There are two types of limiting factors: density-dependent and density-independent.
• Density-Dependent depends on the population which is mainly biotic.
• Density-dependent operates strongly when density of population increases.
• Density-Dependent has biotic limiting factors.
• Competition has more individuals and causes resources to be used faster. Organisms compete for food, water, space, sunlight, shelter, mates, and territories.
• When there are more predators, there is less prey.
• When there are less predators, there is more prey.
• Parasitism and Disease spreads quickly through dense populations.
• Density-Independent depends on abiotic factors.
• Stress from overcrowding leads to lower birth rates, higher death rates, and higher emigration rates.
• Density-Independent limiting factors affects all populations regardless of population size and density.
• Density-independent limiting factors are abiotic factors.
• Density-Independent limiting factors include natural disasters and usual weather, like, hurricanes, droughts, floods, and wildfires.
• Invasive species have lower density-dependent factors.
• Invasive species rarely have predators.
• Population grows from birth and immigration.
• Population decreases from death and emigration.
• Growth rate = 1, population size is unchanged.
• Growth rate > 1, population size is growing.
• Growth rate < 1, population size is decreasing.
• Under ideal conditions with unlimited resources, a population can grow exponentially. Not possible because there is never unlimited resources.
• When a population growth slows, then stops, following a period of exponential growth, it is called logistic growth.
• Carrying Capacity: maximum number of individuals of a particular species that a particular environment can support. Populations stabilize at carrying capacity.
• Less limiting factors, higher carrying capacity.
• More limiting factors, lower carrying capacity.
• If carrying capacity falls low enough, population can be wiped out, leading to extinction due to having fluctuations.