Question

After a harsh winter with little food available, a healthy herd of deer that bred in the fall produces fewer spring fawns than expected. Determine whether the population in each scenario exhibits density independence, negative density dependence, or delayed density dependence?

1) Density independence
2) Negative density dependence
3) Delayed density dependence

Answer 1

A healthy herd of deer produces fewer spring fawns than expected after a harsh winter with little food available. This situation illustrates delayed density dependence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The situation described in the question is an example of delayed density dependence. Delayed density dependence occurs when the effect of population density on the birth rate or mortality rate of a population is not immediate, but is delayed over time.

In this case, the harsh winter with little available food has likely caused high mortality among the deer population. As a result, the number of spring fawns produced is lower than expected. The decreased birth rate is a delayed response to the previous winter conditions, indicating delayed density dependence.