Question

Which are limiting factors? Select all that apply

a. Drought
b. Overflowing water sources
C. weather
d. Hunters
e. Hunters
f. Overpopulation
g. Destruction of habitat
h. Leaves falling

Answer 1

Limiting factors are elements in an environment that constrain population growth. Drought, overflowing water sources, weather, hunters, overpopulation, and destruction of habitat are all limiting factors that impact ecosystems and the species within them. Leaves falling, however, is a natural and cyclic process not directly linked with limiting population growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

Limiting factors are components of an ecosystem that restrict the growth, distribution, or abundance of a population.

These factors can be abiotic (non-living) or biotic (living). Among the options provided, drought, overflowing water sources, weather, hunters, overpopulation, and destruction of habitat are all examples of limiting factors.

Hunters (listed twice), for example, can decrease populations of animals through hunting activities, leading to reduced numbers and impacting the balance within an ecosystem. Similarly, overpopulation can lead to excessive resource use, causing food shortages, habitat destruction, and increased competition for space and resources.

Destruction of habitat includes human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and pollution which lead to the reduction of living areas for species, impacting their ability to survive and reproduce.

Drought and overflowing water sources can change the water availability in an ecosystem, influencing the health and size of animal and plant populations. Weather events such as hurricanes, heatwaves, or cold snaps can also greatly influence living conditions and availability of resources.

In contrast, leaves falling is a natural process that typically does not limit population growth but rather is part of the seasonal cycle that contributes to nutrient cycling. When mentioning other potential limiting factors, resource scarcity, pollution, climate change, disease, and unsustainable resource use, such as excessive fossil fuel consumption, are important to consider.

Answer 2

Limiting factors are environmental or resource-based constraints that reduce population growth. Options (a) drought, (b) overflowing water sources, (c) weather, (d) hunters, (e) hunters, (f) overpopulation, and (g) habitat destruction are examples of limiting factors that can affect populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Limiting factors are resources or other factors in the environment that can lower the population growth rate and influence the health of a population. Examples of limiting factors include a low food supply, lack of space, and various environmental changes and human activities. In the context of the question, the correct options that are limiting factors would be:

• (a) Drought

• (b) Overflowing water sources

• (c) Weather

• (d) Hunters

• (e) Hunters

• (f) Overpopulation

• (g) Destruction of habitat

These factors can lead to reduced birth rates, increased death rates, or emigration of a species from a particular area. Additionally, human activities, including the use of herbicides and habitat destruction, contribute significantly to the list of limiting factors, often exacerbating the issue of scarcity of resources like food and water, leading to a decrease in population growth. Other factors not listed in the options that can also limit populations include light, nutrients or minerals, oxygen, the ability to recycle nutrients, disease, space, and predation. For instance, if we think about the food supply as a limiting factor, it's like having not enough hamburgers for everyone at a lunch table. If the demand far exceeds the supply, some will go without, which is analogous to how organisms might die or move to a new habitat if they cannot find adequate food in nature.