What is referred to as a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

A limiting factor in an ecosystem is defined as any resource or condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population, making option C the correct choice. Limiting factors can be biotic, such as food availability or competition, or abiotic, such as climate, water availability, or sunlight.

These factors play a crucial role in shaping the structure of an ecosystem by influencing how many individuals of a species can survive in a particular environment. For example, if a certain area has limited water available, the population of plants – and consequently the herbivores that rely on those plants for food – will be restricted. This regulation helps maintain balance within ecosystems, preventing any one species from dominating and ensuring diversity.

Other choices do not encapsulate the concept of limiting factors accurately. Factors that improve ecosystem health or enhance reproductive success do not restrict but rather promote population growth. Physical characteristics of organisms describe attributes of individual species but do not pertain to ecosystem-level dynamics. Therefore, option C most effectively captures the essence of what a limiting factor is in the context of ecosystems.