Final answer:
Energy reserves can make a population experience delayed density dependence by buffering against environmental fluctuations and sustaining growth during times of scarcity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Delayed density dependence refers to how a population's growth rate is affected by its size. Energy reserves can influence this by buffering against environmental fluctuations. When a population has energy reserves, it can better handle changes in its environment, leading to delayed density dependence. For example, if a population has energy reserves in the form of food storage during times of scarcity, it can sustain itself and experience less decline in growth rates when resources are limited.
In contrast, when a population lacks energy reserves and is reliant on its immediate environment, it may experience rapid population growth when conditions are favorable, but this growth can quickly decline if resources become scarce.