Density-Dependent Factors

1.a) A density-dependent factor is a type of limiting factor that limits the growth of a population. It is related to population density, meaning that it has a greater impact on a population as their population density increase.

b) Different types of density-dependent factors include competition (interspecific or intraspecific), predation, and disease.

c) Charles Darwin used the concept of density-dependent factors in his Theory of evolution by incorporating them in his idea of natural selection. The many different species of finches on the Galapagos Island existed because of intraspecific competition. There were not enough resources for all the finches, which caused some of them to evolve to eat different resources. Predation also allowed

Passenger pigeons were known to laid only one egg per nest, and only procreate if in a large population. Since their population was decreased by over-hunting and the destruction of their habitat during the 1800s, the small colonies that resulted did not allow for the pigeons to breed. The allee effect became active, not allow the species to reproduce enough and causing their extinction.

f) Minimum viable population size refers a prediction of the smallest population size that can survive predictable and unpredictable variation in the environment for a given species.

4.a) A density-independent factor is a type of limiting factor that limits the growth of a population. It is not related to population density, meaning that its impact on a population is not dependent on the population density to increase.

b) Examples of density-independent factors include natural disturbances and temperature fluctuations. For example, pine trees can have its population reduced by a forest fire regardless of how many trees are in the area. The pine tree population can also be reduced by extreme hot or cold temperatures, with the population number not affecting the chances of that