Question

3. Without any controls, population growth would be exponential. However, this does not occur because there are population-limiting factors.Describe the growth pattern of populations growing in a limited environment..What is meant by density-dependent factors that affect growth Give three examples of density-dependent factors and explain how they affect population growth. Give one example of a density-independent (abiotic) factor that affects growth and explain why it is density independent.

Answer 1

The growth pattern of a distinct population that is restricted to a limited environment occurs is-

• Logistic growth pattern- This type of growth pattern usually occurs due to the low availability of resources. Due to the presence of low and limited amount of resources, the population decreases, and thereby produces the S-shaped curve. Here, the rate of population growth is also significantly very low.

The density-dependent factors are referred to the condition where population density directly controls the growth of any population.

Three of the examples of density-dependent factors that affects the growth are competition, predation and disease. Competition becomes a factor when there is a high amount of population and limited amount of resources that are required by all of them. This results in affecting a large number of people. Disease is another important factor that is responsible for killing many people. Predation is another factor that leads to the reduction in the prey population density. It also can bring changes to the community and thereby causing variation in the diverse species.

One example of density-independent factor that affects the growth of any population is pollutants that are present in the environment. These are compriseed of toxic elements that are harmful to the human heath. This often causes lungs problem, heart problems and other breathing problems, and results in the killing of numerous people.