Final answer:
Density-independent factors in the environment, such as temperature and weather, affect populations regardless of their density. These abiotic factors can influence mortality in a population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nature regulates population growth in a variety of ways. These are grouped into density-dependent factors, in which the density of the population at a given time affects growth rate and mortality, and density-independent factors, which influence mortality in a population regardless of population density. Abiotic factors such as temperature and weather are examples of density-independent factors in the environment that affect populations regardless of their density.