Final answer:
Diseases, availability of food, and predators greatly affect the survival of a population of organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diseases, availability of food, and predators greatly affect the survival of a population of organisms.
Diseases can reduce population size by affecting individuals' health and reproductive success. For example, a disease might kill a large number of individuals, reducing the population size. Additionally, diseases can cause a decline in reproduction rates, leading to a decrease in population growth.
Availability of food is a critical factor determining population size. When food resources are abundant, populations can grow rapidly. However, if food becomes limited, individuals may not have enough resources to survive and reproduce, leading to a decline in population size.
Predators can exert pressure on a population by hunting and consuming individuals. This can lead to a decrease in population size if predation rates are high. However, predators can also have a positive influence on population dynamics by preying on individuals that are weaker or have lower fitness, thus improving the overall health of the population.