|
|
|
|
|
Limiting FactorIn biology, agricultural science, physiology, and ecology, a limiting factor is one that controls a process, such as organism growth or species population size or distribution. The concept is based upon the Law of the Minimum put forth by the German geochemist, Justus von Liebig in 1840. It can be easy to conceive how a limiting resource (say, food) controls a process (say, growth) by running low or running out. However, some biological and ecological processes are controlled by too much of a factor (such as heat) rather than too little. Or, processes may be controlled by complex interactions of factors (Shelford, 1952). Walter Taylor (1934) proposed the following broad, restatement of the law of the minimum: - "The functioning of an organism is controlled or limited by that essential environmental factor or combination of factors present in the least favorable amount. The factors may not be continuously effective but only at some critical period during the year or perhaps only during some critical year in a climatic cycle."
References - Taylor, W. A. (1934). Significance of extreme or intermittant conditions in distribution of species and management of natural resources, with a restatement of Liebig's law of the minimum. Ecology, 15: 374-379.
*Shelford, V. E. (1952). Paired factors and master factors in environmental relations. Illinois Acad. Sci. Trans., 45: 155-160
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|