Limiting Factors & Carrying Capacity

We now know what’s in an ecosystem, but what controls how much. stuff We now know what’s in an ecosystem, but what controls how much *stuff* is in there?

Organisms compete for… Space Water Food or Light Nutrients in lithosphere Which of the above are ABIOTIC?

And are also affected by… Disease Each other (fights between some males to see who gets to reproduce cause deaths) Temperature Which of the above are BIOTIC?

The 7 factors listed above are called Limiting Factors. Different species require different amounts or conditions to survive. These conditions are the species Tolerance Range.

Competition for Limiting Factors and Tolerance Ranges create a… Carrying Capacity: The maximum number of individuals of a species able to survive in an area. Carrying capacity for all consumers increases as the amount of producers increase… *** Producers are VERY important to healthy ecosystems!!***

Symbiotic Relationships Can Increase Carrying Capacity! Mutualism: Both species benefit and both populations increase where they live together. Commensalism: One species benefits and one is not affected, so only one population increases Parasitism or Predation: One species benefits (its population increases) and one species is harmed (its population decreases)

Master of the World Journal Entry: How many producers will you need to support the rest of your ecosystem?

Homework: Questions # 2-4, 6, 8 on page 55