Limiting Factor Theory

Limiting Factor Theory states that an ecosystem's productivity is constrained by the single most limiting resource or factor, such as sunlight, nutrients, water, or temperature. Even if other resources are abundant, growth or output cannot increase beyond what the limiting factor allows. Imagine a factory where production depends on the slowest step; improving other steps won't increase overall output until the bottleneck is addressed. This concept helps us understand that for ecosystems to thrive, all critical resources must be adequately available, but the scarcest one determines the system’s maximum productivity.