Which of the following situations illustrates a link between the effects of density-dependent and density-independent factors?
A) A flood causes a river to overflow and drown a herd of deer.
B) A drought occurs; a small herd of deer is able to survive, whereas a larger herd in the same area perishes.
C) A population of deer increases to a size at which individuals are competing with each other to get enough food.
D) None of the above are correct because density-dependent and density-independent factors cannot affect the same population of organisms at the same time.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In this scenario, the drought acts as a density-independent factor affecting all deer in the area. However, the survival of the small herd indicates that this population may have been less affected by the density-dependent factors such as competition for food and territory due to its smaller size. Thus, there is a link between the effects of the density-independent factor (drought) and the density-dependent factors (competition and limited resources) in determining the survival of the deer population.

Which of the Following Situations Illustrates a Link Between the Effects