Which of the following is an example of a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

Water availability is considered a limiting factor in an ecosystem because it directly affects the survival and growth of organisms within that environment. In many ecosystems, the amount of water available can determine the types of plants and animals that can thrive there. For example, in arid environments, a lack of sufficient water can restrict plant growth, which in turn limits the herbivores that rely on those plants for food. This cascading effect influences the entire food web and the overall health of the ecosystem.

While temperature fluctuations, species diversity, and nutrient cycling are all important components of an ecosystem, they do not serve as direct limiting factors in the same way that water availability does. Temperature can influence the metabolic rates of organisms, but it is water that often serves as the more immediate constraint on life, particularly in environments where water is scarce.