7. Limiting Factor
• A biotic or abiotic factor needed as a resource
for survival; depletion prevents growth or
expansion of the organism or population
8. Summary
• Resources for an organism’s habitat, including
space, food, shelter, and water, may be limited or
depleted by competition. Two species cannot
operate in the same niche in the same
environment.
• Organisms rely on natural resources in their
environment such as quantity of light, water
supply, and suitable temperature.
• Competition occurs when niches overlap and
organisms seek the same resources, especially
when the population density is high.