Final answer:
The population of Easter Island crashed primarily due to a lack of living space, caused by resource overexploitation resulting in deforestation and reduced food supply.
Step-by-step explanation:
The limiting factor that caused the population of Easter Island to crash was living space. Over time, the residents of Easter Island overexploited their resources, leading to deforestation, soil depletion, and ultimately a reduction in the food supply. As the island's carrying capacity was exceeded, lack of living space and resources such as food became a severe problem, contributing to the population crash. Other limiting factors that can influence population growth include water, nutrients, the ability of an ecosystem to recycle nutrients or waste, and predation.