Question

A long answer question will require one to three paragraphs to answer.

1. Density-independent and density-dependent factors can both limit the population size of a species. What is the difference between the two types? What are some examples of each?

Answer 1

Density dependent factors acts on a population but its effect not dependent upon the population density. If the population size is small, the effect will be same like if the population size is ore. the effect does not depend upon the population size. But If the factor is density dependent then the effect of the limiting factor will effect only when the population size is more or density of population is high. In case of low population density the effect of he factor will not be evidenced.

Some examples of density independent factor: Temperature, windstorm, pH of the water etc.

Some examples of density dependent factor : disease, Parasitism, competition , predation

Temperature of a place does not depend upon the population of different species. It increases at summer and decreases in winter. It is a natural phenomenon and it limits the population growth but does not depend upon population size. Similarly a natural disaster like thunderstrom hit a forest and its impact do not depend upon the population size. So these are the examples of population density independent factors .

Predation increases when prey population is more and it decreases when prey population is less. Similarly parasitism and disease spread among density rich populations where rate of transmission is more. It is comparatively less in less dense population where chance of contact and transmission will be low. Competition is severe when number of individuals is more as they share common resources whereas competition is less when the population size is less and hence there is ample resource to be utilized.

These are the explanation how density independent and density dependent factors affects the populations.