Which of the following are examples of density-independent limiting factors

Limiting factors that fall into this category affect the per capita growth rate independent of the population density. These factors don’t make continual corrections to keep the population size under control because the strength of their effectiveness is not rooted in the number of individuals present. Density independent limiting factors cause abrupt and erratic shifts in population size. Small populations are particularly at risk of being wiped out by density-independent limiting factors.

The category of density-independent limiting factors includes fires, natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, tornados), and the effects of pollution. The chances of dying from any of these limiting factors don’t depend on how many individuals are in the population.

In population ecology, limiting factors are factors in the environment that control various aspects of a population. Some limiting factors come into play depending on the density of the population, and others are unrelated to the population density. The latter are referred to as density-independent factors. Density dependent limiting factors are related to living organisms while density-independent limiting factors are related to the environment.

Density Dependent Limiting Factors

Density dependent limiting factors cause the per capita (per individual) growth rate of a population to change as the population gets larger. Limiting factors that are density dependent usually cause the per capita growth rate to decrease, acting as a negative feedback loop to control the size of the population. The maximum number of individuals that can live in an area based on the density dependent limiting factors is called the carrying capacity.

Competition

Individuals in a population are always competing for limited resources like food, mates, shelter, and water. As the population size increases, the competition becomes more intense causing some individuals to die over time, not mate, etc. This feedback makes a correction by reducing the population size to a level that can be supported by the environment.

Predation

Areas with high populations attract predators that kill and eat individuals, helping to keep the population under control. By feeding on these individuals, predators may end up increasing their own numbers, resulting in natural cyclical changes in populations.

Diseases, Parasites, and Accumulation of Waste

Diseases and parasites have more opportunities to spread and infect individuals in larger populations, such as through contaminated water supplies. Also, waste can accumulate quickly in large populations and this leads to death from disease and parasites and can also impair reproduction, reducing the size of the population.

Density Independent Limiting Factors

Limiting factors that fall into this category affect the per capita growth rate independent of the population density. These factors don’t make continual corrections to keep the population size under control because the strength of their effectiveness is not rooted in the number of individuals present. Density independent limiting factors also cause population sizes to increase. For example, the water from a flash flood increases the growth of vegetation, thereby providing more food for primary consumers in the ecosystem.

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Table of Contents

Which of the following are examples of density-independent limiting factors

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density-independent factor, also called limiting factor, in ecology, any force that affects the size of a population of living things regardless of the density of the population (the number of individuals per unit area). Density-independent factors often arise from physical and chemical (rather than biological) phenomena.

Such factors stemming from weather and climate—as well as flooding, wildfires, landslides, and other disasters—affect a population of living things whether individuals are clustered close together or spaced far apart. For example, for most organisms that breathe oxygen, oxygen availability is a density-independent factor; if oxygen concentrations decline or breathable oxygen is suddenly made unavailable, such as when oxygen-using plants are covered by rising floodwaters, those organisms perish and populations of the various affected plant species decline.

The dynamics of most populations of living things are influenced by a combination of density-independent factors and density-dependent factors (that is, those factors that emerge when the concentrations of individuals in a population rise above a certain level). The relative importance of these factors varies among species and populations.

What are examples of density

Some common examples of density-dependent limiting factors include:.
Competition within the population. When a population reaches a high density, there are more individuals trying to use the same quantity of resources. ... .
Predation. ... .
Disease and parasites. ... .
Waste accumulation..

What are 5 density

Density-dependent factors typically involve biotic factors, such as the availability of food, parasitism, predation, disease, and migration. As the population increases, food becomes scarce, infectious diseases can spread easily, and many of its members emigrate.

What is example of density independent?

Examples of Density-Independent Factors Most density-independent factors are abiotic, or nonliving. Some commonly used examples include temperature, floods, and pollution.

Which of the following is a density independent limiting factor quizlet?

Density-independent factors: natural disasters, seasonal cycles, unusual weather, and human activity.