Question

population size and structure
quiz complete

in august 2005, hurricane katrina caused significant damage in several states along the gulf coast, including alabama, mississippi, and louisiana. thousands of people were evacuated from their homes due to flooding and other damage that was caused by the storm.

which type of limiting factor was hurricane katrina?

• density - independent factor
• density - dependent factor
• population - dependent factor
• population - independent factor

Explanation:

A density - independent factor is one that affects a population regardless of its density. Natural disasters like hurricanes (such as Hurricane Katrina) are examples of density - independent factors. They can cause damage and affect population size (in this case, through evacuation) without being influenced by how many individuals were originally in the area. Density - dependent factors (like competition for resources) depend on population density. Population - dependent and population - independent are not standard ecological terms for limiting factors in the same context as density - dependent/independent.

Answer:

density - independent factor