1. Ecosystems
Limiting Factors

2. Ecological Hierarchy Biome Ecosystem Community Population Species
Organism

3. Populations
Biome
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Species
Organism

4. Let’s suppose…. We have two mice…:
and they produce the standard 56 “pups” (baby mice) each year.
and each of these mice goes on to have 56 babies each year….

5. Soon….. We’d be over-run with mice on the planet!!
Why doesn’t this occur?

6. Carrying Capacity What is Earth’s Current Population?
~ 7.1 Billion People
How many humans can Earth support?
1 or 2 billion people living in prosperity, to 33 billion people fed on minimum rations and using all suitable land for high-intensity food production.
Many scientists now believe that the human carrying capacity of Earth may be approximately 12 billion.
What factors determine the Carry Capacity of Earth?
Lifestyle, Food/Waste resources, Climate, Conflict…
How many people can Earth support??

7. Limiting Factors
A limiting factor is an abiotic or biotic factor that restricts the number of individuals in a population.

8. Limiting Factors
Limiting factors can include:
Competitors

9. Limiting Factors Limiting factors can include: Competitors
Disease and parasites

10. Limiting Factors Limiting factors can include: Competitors
Disease and parasites
Weather

11. Limiting Factors Limiting factors can include: Competitors
Disease and parasites
Weather
Fires

12. Limiting Factors Limiting factors can include: Competitors
Disease and parasites
Weather
Fires
Available habitat

13. Limiting Factors Limiting factors can include: Competitors
Disease and parasites
Weather
Fires
Available habitat
Predators

14. Competitors-organisms both cooperate and compete
Birds of prey
Live in forests on the edge of fields
Eat mice and other rodents
Nest in trees
Red-Tailed Hawk
Barred Owl

15. Disease and Parasites
Diseases and parasites can be dependent on population size and habitat

16. Weather
Storms
Drought
Flooding
Heat/cold

17. Fires
Fires lead to succession which is a predictable change in the community over time.

18. Available Habitat Human activities play a large role
Development, damming rivers, clear cutting forests.

19. Predators
Predator-prey relationship can be a delicate balance between the two populations.

20. Predators
As the prey population increases, the predator population increases. As the prey population decreases, then so does the predator population.

21. Example: Lynx and Hare:

22. Battle of Kruger