What is the Law of Tolerance?

A species' environmental tolerances determine its fundamental niche, which is the first limit on the biological structure of a community. Since multiple species coexist in the same environment, these tolerances are modified through direct and indirect interactions with other species, resulting in a realized niche. Predator and competitor species can exclude a species from a community, but mutual species can support a species' presence and population within the community.

Species vary in their range of environmental tolerances, and the abiotic environment (nonliving features, such as temperature, physical conditions, climate, etc.) will change these constraints on distribution of species and their populations.

Smith, T.M. and Smith, R.L. (2009). Elements of Ecology. San Francisco, CA: Pearson International Education.

The Law of Tolerance states that the presence and abundance of a species within an ecosystem are determined not only by its physical and chemical requirements but also by the levels of tolerance it has for various environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and humidity.

The Law of Tolerance, also known as Liebig's Law of the Minimum, states that the growth or distribution of a population is limited by the least available resource, also known as the limiting factor. In other words, the growth of an organism or population is not determined by the total amount of resources available, but by the scarcest resource. This principle is commonly applied in ecology, agriculture, and environmental science to understand and manage ecosystems, crop production, and nutrient availability. Liebig's Law of the Minimum highlights the importance of identifying and addressing the limiting factors to optimize growth and productivity in various systems.