Final answer:
Density dependent limiting factors are usually biotic (living), while density independent limiting factors are usually abiotic (non-living). Biotic limiting factors include competition for food, disease, and availability of food and water, while abiotic limiting factors include weather extremes, pollution, and deforestation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Density Dependent Limiting Factors
- Weather extremes: Weather conditions that are extreme or abnormal, such as hurricanes or droughts, can significantly impact populations of living organisms.
- Competition for food: When resources become limited, individuals within a population may have to compete for available food sources, which can affect their survival and reproduction.
- Catastrophic events: Natural disasters like fires or floods can have a drastic and immediate impact on population size.
- Disease: The presence and spread of diseases can be influenced by population density. High population densities can favor the rapid transmission of diseases, leading to higher mortality rates.
- Pollution: Environmental pollution can have detrimental effects on organisms, reducing their survival and reproductive success.
- Availability of food and water: The abundance or scarcity of food and water can directly impact the survival and growth of populations.
Density Independent Limiting Factors
- Predation: Predators can control population sizes by preying on individuals, regardless of population density.
- Deforestation: The destruction of habitats through deforestation can disrupt ecosystems and negatively impact populations of various organisms.
- Seasonal changes: Natural changes in seasons, such as temperature or precipitation, can affect populations by altering resource availability and reproductive patterns.
Density dependent limiting factors are typically biotic (living) and are influenced by factors within the population. Examples include competition for resources and the spread of diseases. Density independent limiting factors, on the other hand, are usually abiotic (non-living) and can impact populations regardless of their density. Examples include extreme weather events and habitat destruction through deforestation.
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