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Which of the following factors is most likely to be a density-independent regulator of population growth?

A) drought
B) disease
C) starvation
D) parasites

User Juanmf
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Drought is a density-independent regulator of population growth because it affects a population regardless of its density. Disease, starvation, and parasites are typically density-dependent.

Step-by-step explanation:

The factor most likely to be a density-independent regulator of population growth among the options provided is A) drought. Density-independent factors are typically physical or chemical (abiotic), such as weather events or natural disasters, that affect mortality rates regardless of the population's density.

Drought can cause mortality in a population whether it is sparse or dense, as it is related to environmental conditions rather than the interactions among individuals within a population. On the other hand, disease, starvation, and parasites are often considered density-dependent factors, as their effects on a population can depend on how densely the population is packed.

User Nimit Joshi
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