Question

population size and structure
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differentiating limiting factors
determine if the limiting factors listed below are density - dependent or density - independent.
industrial pollution
habitat
food
a hurricane
number of mates
hunting by humans
density - dependent
density - independent
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Explanation:

• Industrial pollution: Density - independent. Industrial pollution affects a population regardless of its density. For example, a chemical spill in a river can harm all organisms in that river, whether there are few or many of them.
• Habitat: Density - dependent. As population density increases, competition for suitable habitat (e.g., nesting sites for birds) becomes more intense.
• Food: Density - dependent. When population density is high, there is more competition for food resources. For instance, in a dense population of deer, there may not be enough grass for all of them.
• A hurricane: Density - independent. A hurricane will impact a population (e.g., destroy the homes of animals) without regard to how many individuals are in that population.
• Number of mates: Density - dependent. In a more dense population, there may be more potential mates, but also more competition for them.
• Hunting by humans: Density - dependent. Hunters may be more likely to target areas with higher population densities of a particular species (e.g., more deer in an area make it more attractive for hunters).

Answer:

• industrial pollution: density - independent
• habitat: density - dependent
• food: density - dependent
• a hurricane: density - independent
• number of mates: density - dependent
• hunting by humans: density - dependent