What is the law of tolerance?

Asked by: Prof. Wilma Bauch  |  Last update: January 27, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (39 votes)

The Law of Tolerance, developed by Victor Shelford, states that the success, abundance, and distribution of an organism are controlled by environmental factors (like temperature, light, or nutrients) that have minimum, maximum, and optimum levels; an organism can only survive within its specific tolerance range, and factors in excess or deficiency outside these limits will limit its growth, survival, and reproduction. It's a key ecological principle showing that organisms need a complete set of conditions, and the single factor that is furthest from its optimum (the limiting factor) determines the species' success.

What is the law of tolerance in simple terms?

It states that an organism's success is based on a complex set of conditions and that each organism has a certain minimum, maximum, and optimum environmental factor or combination of factors that determine success.

What is the law of toleration?

The Act of Toleration, or “An Act for Exempting their Majestyes Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certaine Lawes,” passed by Parliament in 1689, represented the most significant religious reform in England since its break with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s.

What are the 4 types of tolerance?

The four main types of engineering tolerances are Dimensional (Linear), Geometric (GD&T), Fit, and sometimes Force/Functional Tolerances, controlling size, form/orientation, assembly, and performance, respectively, with dimensional tolerances breaking down into unilateral, bilateral, and limit dimensions.
 

What is an example of tolerance?

Tolerance examples include accepting different opinions in discussions (personal), allowing diverse religious practices in a school (community/institutional), respecting cultural differences like music or clothing (social), and engineering specifications allowing parts to vary slightly (technical), showcasing acceptance of differences in people, beliefs, behaviors, and physical measurements.
 

TOLERANCE | BIOLOGY |SS1

41 related questions found

What are the 5 characteristics of tolerance?

Five key characteristics of tolerance include respect for differences, patience and self-control, an openness to learn, a non-judgmental attitude, and the ability to accept others' views without necessarily agreeing. Tolerant individuals show acceptance of diverse cultures, beliefs, and ways of being, fostering peaceful coexistence by understanding and accommodating differences rather than demanding conformity. 

How can I practice tolerance?

Put yourself in someone else's shoes and try to see the world from their perspective. This can help you better understand their thoughts and emotions, leading to greater tolerance. Educate Yourself: Ignorance often fuels intolerance. Make an effort to educate yourself about different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs.

What is tolerance in relationships?

One of my favorite concepts in improving romantic relationships, and simultaneously one of the most challenging, is the role of tolerance. This is a skill that rarely gets talked about. It is the act of neutrally noticing a behavior you may have a desire to protest or change within your partner.

What are the three basic tolerances?

There are three main tolerances: limit dimensions which show the largest and smallest allowed values for a measurement, unilateral tolerances which allow variation in one direction from a target value, and bilateral tolerances which allow variation in both directions from a target.

What is real tolerance?

Explanation: Real tolerance, as described in the Bhagavad Gita (BG 13.8-12), refers to the ability to endure insults and dishonor without losing one's composure or integrity.

Who gave the law of tolerance?

It is a law stating that a certain organism's survival and existence depend upon the multifaceted set of conditions wherein each individual has definite minimum, maximum and optimum ecological factors to establish success. It was develop by American zoologist Victor Ernest Shelford in 1911.

What is the legal definition of tolerance?

The right to express any opinions without censorship. Tolerance involves respect for differing opinions, not just the right to express them.

Do zero tolerance laws make it illegal?

Zero Tolerance laws make it illegal to drive with any measurable amount of specified drugs in the body. These laws are best suited for illegal drugs: if it is illegal to possess or use a drug, then it is reasonable to prohibit driving after the drug has been possessed and used.

Is tolerance a human right?

Among other things, the Declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others.

What is the main purpose of tolerance?

In summary, tolerances are vital for manufacturing, inspection, and end use of the part. They communicate manufacturing limits and indicate critical dimensions and features, they ensure proper fit and function of the manufactured parts, and they define the acceptance criteria for part inspection.

What is the shepherd's law of tolerance?

A law stating that the abundance or distribution of an organism can be controlled by certain factors (e.g. the climatic, topographic, and biological requirements of plants and animals) where levels of these exceed the maximum or minimum limits of tolerance of that organism.

What are the four types of tolerance?

The four main types of engineering tolerances are Dimensional (Linear), Geometric (GD&T), Fit, and sometimes Force/Functional Tolerances, controlling size, form/orientation, assembly, and performance, respectively, with dimensional tolerances breaking down into unilateral, bilateral, and limit dimensions.
 

Can you be too tolerant?

One can tolerate too much and also be intolerant, making it difficult to know what the right time and place is for tolerance. Knowing when and how to use tolerance can be beneficial for individuals and society.

How is tolerance decided?

Next to the dimensions, a tolerance value needs to be specified with the minimum and maximum acceptable limit. The tolerance is the difference between the minimum and maximum limit. For example, if we have a table that we would accept with a height between 750 mm and 780 mm, the tolerance would be 30 mm.

What is the 7 7 7 rule for couples?

The 7-7-7 rule for couples is a relationship guideline suggesting they schedule consistent, quality time together: a date night every 7 days, a weekend getaway every 7 weeks, and a longer, romantic vacation every 7 months, designed to maintain connection, prevent drifting apart, and reduce burnout by fostering regular intentionality and fun. While some find the schedule ambitious or costly, experts agree the principle of regular, dedicated connection is vital, encouraging couples to adapt the frequency to fit their lives.
 

What are the signs of tolerating someone?

8 signs someone tolerates you but doesn't genuinely care about you, according to a psychologist

  • 1) They're indifferent to your success or failure. ...
  • 2) They rarely initiate contact. ...
  • 3) They avoid deep conversations. ...
  • 4) They're constantly distracted when with you. ...
  • 5) They don't remember important details about you.

What are the 4 toxic relationship habits?

The four key toxic relationship behaviors, known as "The Four Horsemen," identified by relationship expert Dr. John Gottman are Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling, which predict relationship failure by destroying trust and intimacy through destructive communication patterns that attack character, express superiority, refuse responsibility, and shut down emotionally. 

What causes a lack of tolerance?

Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can decrease a person's frustration tolerance. 2 Studies have also found that individuals with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to have less tolerance for frustration as well.

How to not let people affect you?

How to Not Let Others' Opinions Affect You

  1. Forge self-awareness and self-acceptance. ...
  2. Give cognitive reappraisal a whirl. ...
  3. Establish and defend your personal boundaries. ...
  4. Focus on what you can control. ...
  5. Develop a growth/ “always learning” mindset. ...
  6. Replace complaining with problem-solving.

What makes someone tolerant?

What are the characteristics of a tolerant person? Some examples of things you may notice with a tolerant person: They're able to effectively circumvent the established process to get things done. They don't mind bending the rules when it's necessary, and it doesn't bother them when others do they same.