Nearly all populations will tend to grow exponentially as long as there are resources available. After an initial period of exponential growth, a population will encounter one or more limiting factors that will cause the exponential growth to stop. The population enters a slower growth phase and may stabilize at a fairly constant population size or in some cases, may decline. Limiting factors can be classified as either density-dependent or density-independent.
Drag each phrase/term to the correct column.
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Density Dependent Density Independent
Density Dependent
- Competition for resources
- Predation
- Disease and parasites
- Intraspecific competition
- Limited nesting sites
Density Independent
- Natural disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires)
- Extreme temperatures
- Drought
- Pollution
- Habitat destruction
Density Dependent: Competition for resources, predation, disease, parasitism, territoriality
Density Independent: Natural disasters, climate change, habitat destruction, pollution
To determine whether a limiting factor is density-dependent or density-independent, we need to understand their definitions and characteristics.
Density-dependent limiting factors are factors that become more intense as the population size increases. These factors are usually related to the density or proximity of individuals in a population. Examples of density-dependent limiting factors include competition for resources (such as food, water, and shelter), predation, disease transmission, and territoriality. These factors are influenced by the number of individuals in the population and can have a significant impact on population growth when the population size is high.
Density-independent limiting factors, on the other hand, affect the population regardless of its size or density. These factors are typically abiotic (non-living) factors that can influence population growth, such as natural disasters (e.g., floods, earthquakes, hurricanes), extreme temperature, drought, pollution, and habitat destruction. Unlike density-dependent factors, the intensity of density-independent factors is not influenced by the size or density of the population.
Now let's categorize some phrases/terms accordingly:
Density Dependent:
- Competition for resources
- Predation
- Disease transmission
- Territoriality
Density Independent:
- Natural disasters (e.g., floods, earthquakes, hurricanes)
- Extreme temperature
- Drought
- Pollution
- Habitat destruction
By understanding the characteristics and examples of each type of limiting factor, we can determine whether a specific factor is density-dependent or density-independent.