Final answer:
Density-dependent regulation in animals is the hypothesis that increased crowding and social contact can have various effects on population regulation, such as increased spread of parasites and pathogens. This can lead to increased mortality rates and lower reproductive rates in the population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Density-dependent regulation in animals is the hypothesis that increased crowding and social contact causes various effects on population regulation. One example is the spread of parasites and pathogenic microbes due to overcrowded conditions. These conditions provide more opportunities for transmission of diseases and can lead to increased mortality rates and lower reproductive rates in the population. For instance, in a study on wild donkey populations, high-density plots had higher juvenile mortality caused by malnutrition due to limited food resources in the dense population.