L3 Limiting Factor Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is a limiting factor?
Any environmental factor that by decrease, increase, absence or presence which limits the growth, metabolic processes, or distribution of organisms or populations
Limiting factors can be physical or biological.
What does Liebig’s Law state?
Growth is regulated by limited factors, i.e., resources in scarcity, not by those in abundance
This law was derived from studying crop and plant growth.
What is the principle behind Liebig’s barrel?
The capacity to sustain water is limited by the shortest staves, analogous to growth regulation by the most limiting nutrients.
What is the significance of nutrient scarcity according to Liebig’s Law?
The availability of nutrients in scarcity is a limiting factor equally important for plant growth as nutrients in abundance.
How are biotechnological innovations related to the Law of Minimum?
They extend the limits by altering dependency on biological limiting factors.
What does Blackman’s Law of Limiting Factor focus on?
The regulation of biological processes by multiple factors, where scarcity of any factor affects the overall process.
What are the basic components required for photosynthesis?
Water, sunlight, chloroplast temperature, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll
Each component must be present in certain required amounts.
What does Shelford’s Law of Tolerance state?
Both scarcity and abundance of factors can affect the growth and development of organisms.
What are the zones defined by Shelford’s Law of Tolerance?
- Zone of Tolerance
- Zone of Intolerance
- Critical Minimum Zone
- Critical Maximum Zone
*Optimum zones
What is the Zone of Intolerance?
The unfavorable zone for the growth and development of organisms.
What is the Optimum Zone?
The most favorable zone for growth and development, situated between two extreme limits.
What are Density Dependent Factors?
Factors whose effect on a population is determined by the total size of the population.
What are Density Independent Factors?
Factors that limit population size but whose effect is not dependent on population size.
What are examples of Physical Limiting Factors?
- Temperature
- Water availability
- Oxygen
- Salinity
- Light
- Food and nutrients
What are Biological Limiting Factors?
Interactions between organisms such as predation, competition, parasitism, and herbivory.
What resources are commonly considered limiting factors?
- Food
- Water
- Light
- Space
- Shelter
- Access to mates
How does light function as a limiting factor in photosynthesis?
Light is essential for plant growth and can limit the rate of photosynthesis if not available in sufficient amounts.
What is carrying capacity in an ecosystem?
The maximum number of individuals a habitat can support without environmental degradation.
What are the critical environmental conditions affecting organisms?
- Temperature
- Precipitation
What happens to enzymes at temperatures above optimal levels?
Enzymes may denature, affecting metabolic functions.
What is a major consequence of increased temperature for plants?
Increased evapotranspiration can lead to desiccation of leaves.
What role do biotic factors play in limiting populations?
Biotic factors such as predation and competition can limit population sizes.
What are human factors that can act as limiting factors?
- Deforestation
- Hunting
- Habitat destruction
- Climate change
How can invasive species act as limiting factors?
They can put pressure on prey populations and disrupt natural predator-prey dynamics.
