The Limiting Factors
Limiting Factors are influences that affect a population size. The limiting factors can include various different species and organisms in a population. These factors are generalized under to two types of categories, Density-dependent and Density-independent factors.
Density-dependent factors are dependent on population size. These factors are influenced by biotic factors, such as other animals. Density-dependent factors consist of predation, competition, parasitism, disease, and some human disturbances. An example of predation is a herd of moose being hunted by wolves; the wolves rely on moose for food. This would decrease the moose’s population, being a limiting factor.
Density-independent factors are generally due to abiotic factors. These aspects do not rely on the size of a population. Factors include in climate weather, natural disasters, seasonal cycles, and certain human activities. An example of natural disaster would be a wild fire. This can be due to lightning strikes, or humans. A fire can lead to the deaths of many living organisms, animals and plants. The fire does not depend on the size of the population. This is a limiting factor.
Limiting factors affect ecosystems all over the world, constantly. They even occur with humans. Such as disease, being a Density-dependent factor, or an earthquake, being a Density-independent factor. These influences can make a big difference. They are capable of wiping out a whole population of species.