In the context of factors impacting primary production, which set of resources is most likely to act as limiting factors for plant growth in natural ecosystems?

• A. High levels of carbon monoxide and heavy metals as the typical universal limitations
• B. Light availability, water availability, and nutrient supply (especially nitrogen and phosphorus)
• C. Oxygen concentration, wind speed, and soil salinity in all environments
• D. Availability of predators and decomposers as the primary constraints on photosynthesis

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of limiting factors in primary production. Limiting factors are resources or environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population in an ecosystem.
2. Step 2: Identify common resources essential for plant growth and photosynthesis, such as light, water, and nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), which are often in limited supply in natural ecosystems.
3. Step 3: Recognize that while factors like carbon monoxide, heavy metals, oxygen concentration, wind speed, soil salinity, predators, and decomposers can influence ecosystems, they are not typically universal limiting factors for primary production across most natural environments.
4. Step 4: Analyze why light availability, water availability, and nutrient supply are the most likely limiting factors because plants require light for photosynthesis, water for metabolic processes, and nutrients for growth and development.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the set of resources most likely to act as limiting factors for plant growth in natural ecosystems is light availability, water availability, and nutrient supply (especially nitrogen and phosphorus).