Final answer:
Density-dependent factors impact population growth and mortality in relation to the population's density, involving biological aspects such as predation, competition, and diseases. These factors are integral to conservation efforts in managing wildlife populations and maintaining ecological balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that influence the growth rate of a population in proportion to the size of the population are called density-dependent factors. These factors include biotic elements such as predation, competition within and between species, accumulation of waste, and diseases like those caused by parasites. As the population density increases, the effects of these density-dependent factors tend to become more pronounced, often leading to increased mortality or reduced reproductive rates, which in turn can slow the population's growth. This is in contrast to density-independent factors, which impact population mortality regardless of the population's density.
Understanding these regulatory mechanisms is crucial for conservation biologists and wildlife biologists who work to manage animal populations, aiming to prevent extinctions and overpopulation. Certain factors become more limiting as populations grow larger and denser, which is shown in the logistic growth model where a population's growth slows as it begins to reach the carrying capacity of its environment.