The cause of this increase in decomposition has often been attributed to an increase in microbial activity resulting from higher energy and nutrient availability released from the FOM.

Physical factors that can prevent or reduce the severity of bleaching are available for the reefs located under conditions that include low light, cloud cover, high water flow and higher nutrient availability.

The canyon's depth and nutrient availability (due to the regular influx of nutrient-rich sediment) provide a habitat suitable for many marine life forms.

During the rainy season, the stratified water column, with high light and lower nutrient availability, favour dominance of cyanobacteria with high numbers of phototrophic picoplankton.

With increased nutrient availability and decreased predation from zooplankton, a diverse phytoplankton community develops.

Soil microorganisms also improve nutrient availability and decrease pathogen and pest activity through competition.

It is unclear, however, whether these plants evolved the ability to trap and kill insects as an adaptation to low environmental nutrient availability or simply a defensive mechanism against insects damaging flower parts.

Prerequisites for mycelial survival and colonization a substrate (like rotting wood) include suitable humidity and nutrient availability.

In some cases a post-hurricane phytoplankton bloom due to increased nutrient availability may perhaps be detectable.

Other factors which exert an influence on distribution include nutrient availability, predation and salinity.