Question

What are the differences between density-independent and density-dependent limiting factors?

Answer 1

Density independent means that the limiting factors are not dependent on the number of individuals in the population. For example, an earthquake will kill individuals in a population no matter if the population is large or small.

A density dependent limiting factor means that the effect is dependent on how many individuals there is in a population. For example, a disease will have greater effect in a large population since it would be spread to more individuals.