Density-Dependant and Density-Independant Factors

Class began by reading an article in our groups titled, "Starving Orangutans May help better Understand Obesity and Eating Disorders in Humans".

Afterwards, we reviewed the terms density-dependant, density-independent, and limiting factors. There are two categories under limiting factor: density-dependant and density-independent. The difference between them relies on whether or not the size of a population influences the factors preventing species numbers from constantly inclining. A density-dependant factor is effected by the size of the population. For example, habitat availability would be a density-dependant factor, since the amount of proper habitat areas that are obtainable would change with a higher or lower population. However, a density-independant factor is an element that is not swayed by the numbers of a species. For example, a drought would be a density-independent factor because, though many species are effected by it, this event would occur regardless to how large the population was.

After reviewing this, we recieved a sheet focusing on determining density-dependant and density-independent factors. On the sheet we were given various situations in which we had to label either density-dependent or density-independent. We worked in groups of three on this assignment for the rest of class.