Limiting Factor - GCSE Biology Definition

A limiting factor is something that slows down or stops a process from happening at its maximum rate. In biology, particularly in studying ecosystems or plant growth, it refers to any condition that limits the rate of a natural process such as photosynthesis. For example, if a plant is not growing as fast as it could because it gets little sunlight, then sunlight is the limiting factor for that process. Other examples of limiting factors include nutrients, water, and temperature. Understanding limiting factors helps us to identify what might be holding back the growth of organisms in their environments.