Limiting Factors in an Limiting Factors in an EcosystemEcosystem

A look at one species:A look at one species:The Green Tree Frog (GTF) The Green Tree Frog (GTF) Hyla cineriaHyla cineria

Limiting FactorsLimiting FactorsEnvironmental factors (either biotic or abiotic)

that prevent a population from increasing

Biotic factors are related to, caused by, or produced by living organisms.

Abiotic factors are not associated with the activities of living organisms.

Let’s identify some of the limiting factors in the environment, and describe how they affect the Green Tree Frog (GTF).

Biotic FactorsBiotic Factors FoodFood description

PredationPredation description

DiseaseDisease description

ParasitismParasitism description

Invasive speciesInvasive species description

CompetitionCompetition description

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors Water Water description Living Space Living Space description Global Warming Global Warming description

Combos Biotic/Abiotic FactorsCombos Biotic/Abiotic Factors Habitat Destruction Habitat Destruction description

Shelter Shelter description

Soil Soil description

Types of Limiting FactorsTypes of Limiting Factors

Availability of FoodAvailability of FoodA basic need of all organisms to obtain

energy from the environment

• If food is not available, organisms may not reproduce and/or may starve

•Green Tree Frogs eat crickets, moths, flies, other small invertebrates

return

•Biotic Factor

Water Water

The right quantity and quality of water is a basic need of all organisms

Quantity of water: GTFs and frogs in general must have enough water to maintain the moisture in their wet/moist skins and to reproduce.

Most frogs lay their eggs in water, and need it for their tadpoles to hatch and grow.

Water Quality: is a measure of how clean the water is for the organisms that use it.

Frogs are considered good bioindicators of water quality since they cannot survive polluted water because of their permeable skins.

urnAbiotic factor

A basic need of all organisms to find a suitable place totake refuge from the weather, to hide from predators,

to sleep, to raise young, etc.

GTFs prefer trees, bushes, and human houses where they consume insects attracted by light sources after dark.

Shelter may be biotic (like trees), abiotic (like rocks), and/or man-made (like houses).

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Abiotic/Biotic factor

ShelterShelter

A basic need of all organisms to have a certain amount of space

Sometimes called territory

Must be large enough to meet organism’s basic requirements such as finding food, water, shelter, mates, etc.

Usually related to an organism’s size return

Abiotic factor

Living SpaceLiving Space

An organism preys on and consumes animals

Green Tree Frogs are eaten by large spiders, birds, snakes, and even larger frogs (such as the invasive species Cuban Tree Frogs).

Biotic factor returnreturn

PredationPredation

Organisms compete to acquire the resources to live and reproduce successfully

Compete for food, water, shelter, space, mates, and other needs Within their own species (other Green Tree Frogs) With other similar species (Barking Tree Frogs, Squirrel Tree

Frogs) With unlike species (spiders and birds) With invasive species (Cuban Tree Frogs)

Biotic factor returnreturn

CompetitionCompetition

Loss of habitat through climate change, urbanization, and other factors

The number one reason that organisms become endangered is habitat loss

Habitats of Green Tree Frogs include wet prairies, cypress swamps, and hydric hammocks as well as borders of lakes and streams, areas with floating vegetation or moist conditions, and occasionally in brackish waters.

Biotic, abiotic and man made factors returnreturn

Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction