Final answer:
Factors contributing to microbial dormancy include lack of resources, competition, and dependence on other microbes. However, 'Activation by agar' is not a factor that induces dormancy; instead, it is a medium for growth, making it the correct answer to the question of what does not contribute to microbial dormancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors contributing to microbial dormancy include various environmental and physiological elements that induce a state of suspended activity or growth in microbes. When examining the factors listed in the provided question, option a) Unidentified metabolic demands may lead to dormancy as microbes adjust their metabolic rates in response to the lack of resources, option b) Competition among microbes may diminish resources or space, thereby contributing to dormancy, and option c) Dependence on other microbes can mean that when those microbes are inactive or absent, some organisms enter dormancy along with them or as a result of their absence.
However, option d) Activation by agar is not typically a factor that contributes to dormancy. Agar is commonly used as a solidifying agent in media for microbial culture and does not generally induce dormancy; rather, it can provide a medium for growth when nutrients are incorporated. In light of this information, it is clear that option d) Activation by agar is the correct answer since it does not contribute to microbial dormancy.