Final answer:
Density-dependent factors are environmental conditions that affect population growth rate and mortality based on population density, while density-independent factors influence mortality regardless of population density. Examples include competition, predation, natural disasters, and temperature extremes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Density-dependent factors are environmental conditions that affect population growth rate and mortality, and these effects vary with population density. Examples of density-dependent factors include competition for resources, predation, and disease. On the other hand, density-independent factors are environmental conditions that influence mortality in a population regardless of population density. Examples of density-independent factors include natural disasters, temperature extremes, and pollution.
An example of how density-dependent and density-independent factors can interact is as follows: a dense population of deer is reduced by a harsh winter (a density-independent factor) and many deer die. However, if there are more deer remaining in the population, the population can recover faster because there is a larger pool of individuals available for reproduction.