Limiting Nutrient

Definition

A limiting nutrient is an essential nutrient that is in short supply relative to its demand by organisms in an ecosystem. Its scarcity can restrict the growth and productivity of organisms within that ecosystem.

Related terms

Nutrient Limitation: The condition where an organism's growth or productivity is constrained by the scarcity of a specific nutrient.

Algal Blooms:

Rapid and excessive growth of algae in aquatic ecosystems due to an abundance of nutrients, often caused by human activities.

Trophic Cascade:

A series of indirect effects within an ecosystem that result from changes in the abundance or behavior of organisms at one trophic level.