Density-independent factor, also called limiting factor, in ecology, any force that affects the size of a population of living things regardless of the density of the population (the number of individuals per unit area).

Higher population density has definitely enabled economic and social development. But, at the same time the growth in the overall population of the planet is threatening to exacerbate many environmental and economic population, such as over-fishing, higher pollution, loss of habitat and stress on water.

The density of a material varies with temperature and pressure. Increasing the pressure on an object decreases the volume of the object and thus increases its density. Increasing the temperature of a substance (with a few exceptions) decreases its density by increasing its volume.

Recent work in stream salmonids suggests that individual growth rates can be depressed even at low population densities, which warrants examination of populations previously assumed to be below carrying capacity. Finally, density in interaction with water temperature did not affect growth rates of either age class.

Density-dependent factors include disease, competition, and predation. Density-dependant factors can have either a positive or a negative correlation to population size. With a positive relationship, these limiting factors increase with the size of the population and limit growth as population size increases.

It is something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, how much sleep you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were when you took it.

Some common examples of density-dependent limiting factors include:

• Competition within the population. When a population reaches a high density, there are more individuals trying to use the same quantity of resources.
• Predation.
• Disease and parasites.
• Waste accumulation.

Unlike density dependent factors, a volcano affects any organism in its path, regardless of density. The organism could have been the last of its kind, or one of many, but it will still be negatively impacted by the volcano. 3.

Most density-independent factors are abiotic, or nonliving. Some commonly used examples include temperature, floods, and pollution. How could temperature be a factor in determining the density of a population? Imagine a heavily forested area that is home to a population of mosquitoes.

Cards

5 possible solutions to overpopulation

1. Empower women. Studies show that women with access to reproductive health services find it easier to break out of poverty, while those who work are more likely to use birth control.
2. Promote family planning.
3. Make education entertaining.
4. Government incentives.
5. 5) One-child legislation.

Population density is the number of individuals per unit geographic area, for example, number per square meter, per hectare, or per square kilometer.

Limiting factors can lower birth rates, increase death rates, or lead to emigration. When organisms face limiting factors, they show logistic growth (S-shaped curve, curve B: Figure below). Competition for resources like food and space cause the growth rate to stop increasing, so the population levels off.

What natural factors can change a population’s size? Birth Rate, death rate, and the rate at which individuals enter or leave the population.