Final answer:
True, population density can affect the age at which an animal matures due to density-dependent factors such as competition for resources in a dense population.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, population density can indeed affect the age at which an animal matures. This is related to density-dependent factors in population biology. When a population is dense, resources such as food and space become limited, leading to competition among individuals. This competition can affect the growth rates and reproductive strategies of the animals. For instance, in a high-density population, it may be more advantageous for an organism to mature at a later age when it is larger and can compete more effectively for resources.
In an experiment with wild donkey populations in Australia, it was observed that juvenile mortality due to the mother's malnutrition was higher in denser populations, affecting the growth rates of these populations. As population density increases, the competition for high-quality food intensifies, which may impact the age of maturity for offspring due to developmental challenges.