In: Biology
Analyze the population-balancing mechanisms that are operating among the various organisms.
The mechanisms which regulate a population size, can be classified into two broad categories:
1) Density dependent
These factors are dependent on population size
Examples are:-
a) Competition- Competion for food, territory and mate influence the reproductive and survival rate of a population.
b) Predation- More density will lead to high predation pressure. Ex:- Lemmings of high artic tundra were predated by owls and foxes.
c) Diseases- Disease spread faster in high dense population and it can drastically decline it in case of epidemic.Eg. Ceratocystis ulmi fungus epidemic severly affected the elm trees.
Density dependent factors regulate the population size by changing reproduction and survival rate.
2) Density independent
These factors are not dependent on population size
a) Climatic factors
Climatic factors like, food availability, nutrient distribution, pollution and extreme catastrophe directly regulate population size by destroying habitats and increasing mortality rate.