Densitydependent
Densitydependent, or density-dependent, describes processes whose effects scale with the density of a population. In ecology, such factors regulate population size because encounters among individuals increase or resource availability decreases as density rises. Consequently, birth rates may fall and/or death rates may rise at higher densities, producing self-limiting growth patterns.
Mechanisms of density dependence include competition for limited resources like food and space, which reduces juvenile
Density-dependent processes are contrasted with density-independent factors, such as weather events or natural disasters, that affect
Implications of density dependence are central to conservation, resource management, and Understanding population viability. Variations in