What is a Limiting Factor?
A limiting factor in the tropical rainforest, or more specifically in the Zahamena National Park's ecosystem, is anything that prevents growth of the population or halts any kind of process. There are two types of limiting factors: Density dependent and density independent. Each type of limiting factor affects the population in a different way.
Density Dependent Limitations: A density dependent limitation is when the death rate of a population increases as the density of the population increases. These types of limitations can also be known as a negative feedback. The population growth has stopped or it is negatively increasing. In simpler terms, a density dependent limitation is a limitation based on the population's size in the environment. Examples of density dependent limitations include: competition for food, reproduction limitations, or limited resources. If there is a lack of females reproducing in a population, then the birth rates will decrease and the population will not grow. Instead, organisms will die off and there will be none to replace them. The same goes for limited resources. If there are not enough nuts or grasses in our national park, then birds and lemurs will not have a food All of the factors result in a decline in the population as density increases. (8, 9)
Density Independent Limitations: A density independent limitation is different than a density dependent limitation. A density independent limitation is when the birth and death rates do not change when population density is increasing or decreasing. They affect the population no matter the size. Density Independent limitations are more environmentally based or weather based. Examples of these limitations include: natural disasters, drought, and human activity. If a natural disaster like a hurricane comes through the Zahamena National Park, then the hurricane will affect all populations that live on the reserve. The hurricane would destroy homes of animals and destroy plant populations. Drought would also be a big issue in the tropical rainforest. If there was not enough precipitation, then the moist climate that the animals and plants are adapted to would change. To conclude, a density independent limitation will affect all populations due to different environmental changes or any of the factors listed earlier in this paragraph. (8, 9)