Limiting Factors
What is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?
A factor that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population.
Which of these is an abiotic factor: sunlight, deer, or grass?
Sunlight.
What is an organisms niche.
The role or function of an organism within its environment.
What happens to a population if a key limiting factor increases?
The population is likely to increase as more resources become available.
Which of the following is a limiting factor that could decrease a population: food scarcity, abundance of water, or stable climate?
Food scarcity.
Define a biotic factor and give an example.
A biotic factor is a living component of an ecosystem, such as plants or animals.
Describe the difference between a habitat and a niche.
A habitat is where an organism lives, while a niche is its role in that environment
If the prey population decreases, what happens to the predator population?
The predator population would likely decrease due to less food.
How would a sudden disease outbreak act as a limiting factor for a population?
It can decrease a population by increasing mortality rates or reducing reproduction.
How do abiotic factors like temperature affect the survival of a species?
Temperature affects metabolic rates, reproduction, and survival.
How does a species' niche (job/role) contribute to the stability of a community?
A species' niche helps to reduce competition by occupying different roles.
What could cause a population to increase suddenly?
An abundance of resources or a decrease in predators.
Identify a limiting factor that would be most critical in a desert environment
Water availability.
In a swamp, what would be considered a biotic factor: lily pads, water, or mud?
Lily pads.
What might happen if two species have overlapping niches (jobs/roles)?
They may compete for resources, leading to one outcompeting the other.
Predict what might happen to a deer population if the main water source dries up.
The deer population would likely decrease.
How does predation act as a limiting factor in an ecosystem?
Predation controls population sizes by removing individuals from prey species.
Explain how both abiotic and biotic factors interact to support a healthy ecosystem.
Abiotic factors like temperature and water interact with biotic factors to maintain ecosystem balance.
Provide an example of a species and describe its role in its community.
Bees play a crucial role in pollination, supporting the food web.
Or any good example described.
Describe how competition for resources can affect population sizes.
Competition can lead to smaller population sizes as only the strongest survive.