Limiting Factors of Population Size
A limiting factor is any factor that limits the growth of a population by restricting the resources or conditions available. Limiting factors stop populations growing indefinitely and determine the carrying capacity.
Limiting factors can be abiotic (non-living) or biotic (living).
Abiotic limiting factors include:
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Key terms in this lesson
- carrying capacity
- The maximum population size that an environment can sustain over a long period of time, limited by the availability of resources.
More in Populations and Sustainability
- Population Size
- Carrying Capacity
- Density-Dependent and Density-Independent Factors
- Predator-Prey Relationships
- Interspecific Competition
- Intraspecific Competition
- Conservation
- Preservation
All 17 lessons in Populations and Sustainability · All OCR A-level Biology topics