Which of the following is a density-dependent limiting factor?

Which of the following is a density-dependent limiting factor?

• A. Climate
• B. Food
• C. Weather
• D. Natural disasters

Answer: (B)

Density-dependent limiting factors are those whose impact increases as population size grows, because more individuals compete for the same resources. Food availability fits this idea: when a population increases, more organisms compete for limited food, reducing per-capita food supply, slowing growth and reproduction, and potentially raising mortality. This stronger effect at higher densities helps regulate the population toward the carrying capacity of the environment. In contrast, climate, weather, and natural disasters tend to affect populations regardless of how many individuals are present, making them density-independent. A drought, storm, or flood can have similar proportional effects whether the population is large or small. So, the resource that shows intensity changing with density is food.

Density-dependent limiting factors are those whose impact increases as population size grows, because more individuals compete for the same resources. Food availability fits this idea: when a population increases, more organisms compete for limited food, reducing per-capita food supply, slowing growth and reproduction, and potentially raising mortality. This stronger effect at higher densities helps regulate the population toward the carrying capacity of the environment. In contrast, climate, weather, and natural disasters tend to affect populations regardless of how many individuals are present, making them density-independent. A drought, storm, or flood can have similar proportional effects whether the population is large or small. So, the resource that shows intensity changing with density is food.