AF 101 – Agroforestry Ecology
AGROFORESTRY ECOLOGY
(AF 1 01 )
MODULE 1
LESSON 2: Laws of Limiting Factor
A limiting factor refers to any of the factors (variables) in an environment capable of limiting a
process, such as the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem.
Limiting factors may be density-dependent or density-independent . Those that are density-dependent
tend to limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population depending on how dense a
population is. Conversely, a density-independent limiting factor is capable of limiting population
growth, abundance, or distribution irrespective of population density.
Limiting factors may also be single-limiting, i.e. when only one factor limits the system. When a
factor causes an indirect restrictive effect or increases the effect of a direct limiting factor, it is termed
a co-limiting factor. Examples of limiting factors that could limit the size of a population are food,
nutrients, shelter, and mate. These resources are limited in the ecosystem, and as a result, they could
drive living things to compete for them.
The principles or laws that help explicate limiting factors in an ecosystem are Liebig’s law of the
minimum, Blackman’s law of limiting factor, and Shelford’s law of tolerance.
In the law of minimum, the growth of population could be regulated by the scarcest
resource, not by the resources in abundance.
In the law of limiting factor, a biological or an ecological process that depends on
multiple factors will tend to have a rate limited by the slowest factor.
In the law of tolerance, the survival success of an organism is suggested to depend on
a complex set of environmental factors.
Biology defi nition:
A limiting factor is an environmental factor or variable that has the capacity to restrict the growth,
abundance, or distribution of a population in an ecosystem. These factors are present in limited supply.
Thus, organisms tend to compete for their limited availability in the ecosystem. Different limiting
factors affect the ecosystem. They are (1) keystone species, (2) predators, (3) energy, (4) available
space, and (5) food supply.
Etymology:
The term limiting factor comes from Latin limitare, meaning “to bound” and from Latin factor,
meaning “a doer”, “performer”), from factus, meaning “done” or “made”.
Synonyms:
limiting resource; ecological factor; constraining factor
Principles and laws
The principle of limiting factors is defined as the principle whereby a factor that is in the
shortest supply will limit the growth and development of an organism or a
community. (1) Liebig’s law of the minimum, Blackman’s law of limiting factor, and Shelford’s law
of tolerance are the laws that explain the principles of limiting factors.
1|Page
Instructor: Ervin Jimeno
AGROFORESTRY ECOLOGY
(AF 1 01 )
MODULE 1
LESSON 2: Laws of Limiting Factor
A limiting factor refers to any of the factors (variables) in an environment capable of limiting a
process, such as the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem.
Limiting factors may be density-dependent or density-independent . Those that are density-dependent
tend to limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population depending on how dense a
population is. Conversely, a density-independent limiting factor is capable of limiting population
growth, abundance, or distribution irrespective of population density.
Limiting factors may also be single-limiting, i.e. when only one factor limits the system. When a
factor causes an indirect restrictive effect or increases the effect of a direct limiting factor, it is termed
a co-limiting factor. Examples of limiting factors that could limit the size of a population are food,
nutrients, shelter, and mate. These resources are limited in the ecosystem, and as a result, they could
drive living things to compete for them.
The principles or laws that help explicate limiting factors in an ecosystem are Liebig’s law of the
minimum, Blackman’s law of limiting factor, and Shelford’s law of tolerance.
In the law of minimum, the growth of population could be regulated by the scarcest
resource, not by the resources in abundance.
In the law of limiting factor, a biological or an ecological process that depends on
multiple factors will tend to have a rate limited by the slowest factor.
In the law of tolerance, the survival success of an organism is suggested to depend on
a complex set of environmental factors.
Biology defi nition:
A limiting factor is an environmental factor or variable that has the capacity to restrict the growth,
abundance, or distribution of a population in an ecosystem. These factors are present in limited supply.
Thus, organisms tend to compete for their limited availability in the ecosystem. Different limiting
factors affect the ecosystem. They are (1) keystone species, (2) predators, (3) energy, (4) available
space, and (5) food supply.
Etymology:
The term limiting factor comes from Latin limitare, meaning “to bound” and from Latin factor,
meaning “a doer”, “performer”), from factus, meaning “done” or “made”.
Synonyms:
limiting resource; ecological factor; constraining factor
Principles and laws
The principle of limiting factors is defined as the principle whereby a factor that is in the
shortest supply will limit the growth and development of an organism or a
community. (1) Liebig’s law of the minimum, Blackman’s law of limiting factor, and Shelford’s law
of tolerance are the laws that explain the principles of limiting factors.
1|Page
Instructor: Ervin Jimeno
