EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -However, many sources of environmental stress affect population growth, irrespective of the density of the population. Density-independent factors, such as environmental stressors and catastrophe, are not influenced by population density change.

Detailed explanation-2: -Density-independent factors are not influenced by a species population size. All species populations in the same ecosystem will be similarly affected, regardless of population size. Factors include: weather, climate and natural disasters.

Detailed explanation-3: -Generally natural calamities, climate changes, and environmental stresses are the factors of density-independent factors. The predation belongs to the density-dependent factor because it does not occur via climatic changes. Therefore, the correct answer is C.) predation.

Detailed explanation-4: -In biology, the definition of density-dependent factors is the ecological factors that affect population size and growth in a density-dependent manner. Some of the common examples are the availability of food, parasitism, predation, disease, and migration.

Detailed explanation-5: -density-independent factor, also called limiting factor, in ecology, any force that affects the size of a population of living things regardless of the density of the population (the number of individuals per unit area).