which of these factors operates in a density-dependent manner? course hero

by Golden Hill 6 min read

What is meant by density dependent factors?

Density-Dependent Factors Defined. One very important mechanism for regulating population size is density dependence. The density of a population is simply how many organisms are living in a given area. Density-dependent factors are factors where the effects on the size or growth of a population vary with the density of the population itself.

What is an example of density dependence in biology?

Disease is one of the most notable examples of density dependence. Diseases spread quickly through dense populations because individuals live in closer proximity to each other. Parasitism is similar to disease in that it also spreads faster through dense populations.

How do density-dependent factors affect water availability?

Density-dependent factors operate only when the population density reaches a certain level. These factors operate most strongly when a population is large and dense. So the answer is B water the more animals the less water there is available.

What is the relationship between population density and health?

The presence of nonbreeding individuals in a population is an indication that territoriality is restricting population growth. Population density can also influence the health and thus the survival of organisms. As crowding increases, the transmission rate of a disease may increase.

What is the study of factors that affect population density and dispersion patterns?

Random patterns are not common in nature. Demography is the study of factors that affect population density and dispersion patterns. Demography is the study of the vital statistics of populations and how they change over time.

How does density occur?

Density results from dynamic interplay between processes that add individuals to a population and those that remove individuals from it. Additions to a population occur through birth (including all forms of reproduction) and immigration (the influx of new individuals from other areas).

How do populations evolve?

Populations can evolve through natural selection acting on heritable variations among individuals and changing the frequencies of various traits over time. Two important characteristics of any population are density and the spacing of individuals. Every population has a specific size and specific geographical boundaries.

What is the study of population growth?

Overview: Earth’s Fluctuating Populations. To understand human population growth, we must consider the general principles of population ecology . Population ecology is the study of populations in relation to the environment, including environmental influences on population density and distribution, age structure, and population size.

What factors remove individuals from a population?

The factors that remove individuals from a population are death (mortality) and emigration (the movement of individuals out of a population). Immigration and emigration may represent biologically significant exchanges between populations. Within a population’s geographic range, local densities may vary substantially.

Why are local densities important?

Variations in local density are important population characteristics, providing insight into the environmental and social interactions of individuals within a population. Some habitat patches are more suitable that others.

What is a population?

A population is a group of individuals of a single species that live in the same general area. Members of a population rely on the same resources, are influenced by similar environmental factors, and have a high likelihood of interacting with and breeding with one another.

When the density of a population is low, what is the effect of resources?

When the density of a population is low (few individuals in a given area), resources are not limiting. There are plenty of resources for everyone. More individuals can give birth, and fewer individuals will die. Overall, the population will grow in size and become denser. When the density of a population is high (many individuals in a given area), ...

What is density dependent?

The density of a population is simply how many organisms are living in a given area. Density-dependent factors are factors where the effects on the size or growth of a population vary with the density of the population itself. There are several types of density-dependent factors, but they all have two things in common: they influence the rates ...

What happens to the prey population when the predator eats more prey?

As the predator eats more prey, the prey population size decreases. This, in turn, decreases predation, as well as the population size of the predator. As predation decreases, the prey population size increases and once again provides more prey for the predator. Competition is another density-dependent factor.

What are the resources that are essential to life?

These resources, such as food, water, and shelter, are essential to life. Each population has a size that is 'just right' for it, and there are natural methods to control population growth. One very important mechanism for regulating population size is density dependence. The density of a population is simply how many organisms are living in ...

What happens to the population when the density of a population is high?

When the density of a population is high (many individuals in a given area), resources are more limited for each individual. Because of this, more individuals will die, fewer individuals will be born, and the population size will decrease and become less dense.

Why do diseases spread quickly through dense populations?

Diseases spread quickly through dense populations because individuals live in closer proximity to each other. Parasitism is similar to disease in that it also spreads faster through dense populations. Parasites are organisms that live off of other organisms, known as hosts.

What happens to the population as the number of individuals increases?

As the number of individuals increases, resources become less available , and after a while, the population will begin to get smaller. Though this seems harmful at first, it will eventually allow the population to grow again, and the regulating cycle will continue. Learning Outcomes.