POPULATION GROWTH &

LIMITING FACTORS

POPULATION GROWTH IS BASED ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES!

Exponential growth is a rapid population

increase due to an abundance of resources.

 Logistic growth is due to a population facing

limited resources.

CARRYING CAPACITY
The amount of organisms the environment can
support without competition
When organisms exceed carrying capacity, that is
when competition begins

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CARRYING

CAPACITY IS EXCEEDED?
1. A population may even out at its carrying capacity
2. A population may crash- dramatic decline in the
size of a population over a short period of time.

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a

population to decrease in size.

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Sunlight
Water
Temperature

Density
Independent Factors
(Non-living / Abiotic)

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Sunlight
Water
Temperature

Disease
Parasites
Predators
Competition

Density
Independent Factors
(Non-living / Abiotic)
Density Dependent
Factors
(Other living things)

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

A
Density
Dependent

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

A
Density
Dependent

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

Density
Density
Dependent Independent

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

Living Factors

Density
Density
Dependent Independent

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

B
Living Factors Nonliving
(Abiotic)
Density
Density
Dependent Independent

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

A
Density
Independent
(Sunlight)

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

A
Density
Independent
(Sunlight)

 Limiting Factors: A factor that causes a population to

decrease in size.
Which is density independent and which is density dependent?

A
Density
Independent
(Sunlight)

BDensity
Dependent
(Parasites)

CAN CARRYING CAPACITY CHANGE

OVER TIME?
Limiting factors can alter the carrying capacity
The orange aliens each need a lychee and a green doughnut to
survive.
What is the carrying capacity?
What is the limiting factor?

CAN CARRYING CAPACITY CHANGE OVER

TIME?
A drought results in fewer lychees.
What is the new carrying capacity?
What is the new limiting factor?