Answer: density dependent
Limiting factor is a resource or environmental condition which limits the growth, abundance or distribution of population of species in an ecosystem. A limiting factor can be living or non-living affecting the size of the population of species in an ecosystem. Density dependent limiting factor causes decline in population per capita growth with increasing population density. Density dependent limiting factors are mostly biotic (living) rather abiotic (non-living).
Density dependent limiting factor will affect a large population more than it affects a small population because of the following reasons:
1. Competition: When a population attains high density, the members of the population compete for available resources like food, shelter, water, mates and other resources required for survival and reproduction. The competition for resources will limit the members in the population.
2. Predation: Larger population may attract more number of predators. Therefore, density in this case will result in limitation in population size.
3. Disease: When more number of individuals living in the same locality, there are chances of transmittance of diseases, hence, will result in decrease in population.
4. Accumulation of waste: High population density can lead to accumulation of biological wastes, which can contaminate the living environment, hence can limit population size.
