Species Distribution: Limiting Factors
Limiting factors and range of tolerance
- The term distribution refers to
Where a species is found within an ecosystem
- The distribution of a species is influenced by limiting factors, which in this context means
Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the growth of organisms
- Limiting factors will determine the range of tolerance, and therefore distribution, of a species, e.g. if soil water levels become severely limiting, then a plant species will be outside its range of tolerance and will no longer be able to survive in an area
Investigating the effect of limiting factors on species distribution
- It is possible to investigate the effect of a limiting abiotic factor on the distribution of a species using transect sampling
- A transect is used to measure the change in species abundance along an environmental gradient
- This gives an estimate of distribution at different levels of the abiotic factor in question
- E.g. if investigating the effect of soil water availability on the distribution of a plant species, the transect would be set up along a high to low soil water gradient, and plant abundance would be measured at different soil water levels
- Sampling is a technique that involves taking measurements from a small area to represent the measurements that might be gained across a large area
- Sampling saves time; it is not possible to count all of the individual organisms in a habitat
- Samples must be representative of the whole; so a large enough sample size must be taken
- A transect is used to measure the change in species abundance along an environmental gradient
Transects
- Transects are lines laid out across a site that can be used to measure abundance and distribution across a habitat
- Transects are useful for determining how species abundance and distribution might change along an environmental gradient e.g. at increasing distances from the water's edge on a rocky shore
- To carry out a transect, a tape measure is laid out along the gradient of interest, and samples are taken along the line
- There are different ways of carrying out transect studies:
- Continuous line transect
- Every species touching the tape measure is recorded
- Interrupted line transect
- Species touching the line at regular intervals, e.g. every metre, are recorded
- Continuous belt transect
- Quadrats are placed end-to-end along the line
- Interrupted belt transect
- Quadrats are placed at regular intervals, e.g. every metre, along the line
- Continuous line transect
Interrupted line and belt transects can be used to measure the distribution of species at different levels of an abiotic factor across a habitat
Measuring abiotic factors
- When investigating the impact of an abiotic factor on species distribution it is important to measure the relevant abiotic factor at each sample site along the transect
- It is only necessary to record relevant abiotic factors
- A study may only be interested in one particular abiotic factor
- Some abiotic factors may not be relevant in certain habitats, e.g. water turbidity (cloudiness) will not be relevant in a woodland habitat
- It is only necessary to record relevant abiotic factors
- Abiotic factors can be measured using specialised equipment and techniques
Measuring abiotic factors table
Abiotic factor | Method of measurement |
Air temperature | Thermometer |
Rainfall | Rain gauge; a funnel collects water in a measuring cylinder |
Humidity | Hydrometer; an electronic device that measures water vapour content of air |
Dissolved oxygen | Electronic oxygen sensor |
Water turbidity (cloudiness) | A turbidity meter measures light scattered by particles in the water, or a Secchi disc is lowered into the water until it is no longer visible and the depth recorded |
Light intensity | Electronic light meter |
Landscape relief (height of land) | Contour lines on a map or a GPS |
Site aspect (direction that site faces) | Compass |
Slope incline | Clinometer; a specialised protractor that allows angle to be calculated using trigonometry |
Soil or water pH | Indicator solution |
Soil water content | Difference in mass between a soil sample and the same soil sample after it has been dried |
Representing results
- The results of an investigation into the distribution of organisms in response to an environmental gradient can be represented visually using a type of graph known as a kite diagram
- Kite diagrams can show both distribution and abundance
- The distribution of a species along a transect can be shown by its position along a central horizontal line in each section of a kite diagram
- Each section represents a different species
- The distance along the transect is given on the x-axis, to which the horizontal line is parallel
- The abundance of a species can be shown by the width of the 'kite' around the central horizontal line
- The shape is referred to as a kite because it extends an equal distance on each side of the central horizontal line
- The distribution of a species along a transect can be shown by its position along a central horizontal line in each section of a kite diagram
- Additional sections can be added to a kite diagram to show the changes in abiotic factors at different points along a transect, e.g. the height above sea level or the pH of soil
Kite diagram
Kite diagrams can be used to provide a visual representation of both abundance and distribution of species, as well as changes to abiotic factors such as elevation
Exam Tip
You should be able to design and carry out a study that investigates the effect of a specific abiotic factor on the distribution of a species
This can be carried out in a:
- Natural habitat
- Semi-natural habitat, i.e. an area that has been influenced by human activity but still contains wild species
You should use sensors to measure abiotic factors