Final answer:
Environmental factors limit species' distribution and abundance through limiting factors like light, water, nutrients, and temperature, inducing logistic growth dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental factors play a crucial role in limiting the distribution and abundance of species within an ecosystem. Various abiotic and biotic factors, such as light, water, nutrients, oxygen, and temperature, work together to create a habitat's specific conditions that may support or inhibit the presence of certain species. Limiting factors such as food supply and lack of space contribute to a logistic growth pattern among populations, as per the concept of carrying capacity. Apart from these, factors like predation, disease, competition for resources, and the ability to recycle nutrients impact organisms' survival and reproduction, subsequently influencing their distribution across different regions.
In terrestrial ecosystems, energy sources, temperature, water, inorganic nutrients, and soil composition are significant limiting factors, while aquatic ecosystems are affected by nutrient availability due to processes like ocean upwellings and seasonal turnovers. Additionally, climatic conditions such as rainfall, seasons, and elevation can have a profound impact on the geographic distribution of species. For example, endemic species are found only within specific geographic areas, often due to very unique environmental requirements.
Not only are nutrients like carbon and nitrogen recycled among the living and nonliving components of ecosystems, but they also serve as critical limiting factors, particularly nitrogen in plant growth and primary production. Ultimately, the interplay of all these environmental factors will determine the community dynamics, shaping the ecological balance and biodiversity within a specific area.