Question

limiting factors and carrying capacity
when living conditions in an area are good, a population will generally grow. but eventually some environmental factor will cause the population to stop growing. a limiting factor is an environmental factor that causes a population to decrease. some limiting factors for populations are food and water, space, and weather conditions.

1. what is a limiting factor? (answer in a complete sentence by restating the question)

1. are the limiting factors abiotic or biotic factors (or both)? explain why.

food and water
organisms require food and water to survive. since there isnt always an endless amount of food and water, they are limiting factors. suppose a bear must eat 10 fish a day to survive. the river nearby provides about 100 fish a day without harming the fish population. five bears could easily live in this area because they would only need 50 fish total. but if there were 15 bears they would not all survive because there would not be enough food. no matter how much shelter and water there was, the population would not get larger than 10 bears for any extended period of time.

1. how can food availability limit bear population growth?

1. plants use photosynthesis to transform sunlight into sugar. what would limit this process in plants?

1. another limiting factor is waste produced by animals. this waste can cause water to become polluted, and promote dangerous algae growth. why would too much algae pose a risk to fish?

1. what would be limiting factors for plant growth?

Explanation:

1. A limiting factor is an environmental factor that causes a population to decrease.
2. Limiting factors can be both abiotic and biotic. Abiotic factors like water and space (non - living) and biotic factors like food (living - related as it comes from other organisms) are examples.
3. If there is not enough food (e.g., if the number of bears exceeds the amount of fish available), not all bears will survive, so population growth is limited.
4. Limiting factors for photosynthesis could be lack of sunlight (abiotic), lack of water (abiotic), or lack of carbon dioxide (abiotic).
5. Too much algae can use up oxygen in the water (during respiration, especially at night) and block sunlight for other aquatic plants (affecting oxygen production), which can suffocate fish.
6. Limiting factors for plant growth include lack of sunlight (abiotic), lack of water (abiotic), poor soil nutrients (abiotic - soil composition), and competition with other plants (biotic).

Answer:

1. A limiting factor is an environmental factor that causes a population to decrease.
2. Limiting factors can be both abiotic and biotic.
3. If there is not enough food, not all bears will survive, limiting population growth.
4. Lack of sunlight, water, or carbon dioxide.
5. Too much algae can deplete oxygen and block sunlight, suffocating fish.
6. Lack of sunlight, water, soil nutrients, or competition with other plants.