Question

activity b: density - dependent limiting factors
get the gizmo ready: click reset. on the simulation pane, make sure ample is selected for the amount of land available.
introduction: population density is the number of individuals in a population per unit of area. some limiting factors only affect a population when its density reaches a certain level. these limiting factors are known as density - dependent limiting factors.
question: how does a density - dependent limiting factor affect carrying capacity?

1. think about it: what do you think some density - dependent limiting factors might be?
2. predict: suppose a shopping mall is built near a rabbit warren, leaving less land available for rabbits. how will this affect the environments carrying capacity?
3. experiment: use the gizmo to find the carrying capacity with ample, moderate, and little land. list the carrying capacities below.

ample: moderate: little:

1. analyze: how did the amount of space available to the rabbits affect how many individuals the environment could support?
2. infer: why do you think limiting a populations space decreases the carrying capacity?
3. challenge yourself: other than space, what might be another density - dependent limiting factor? explain.

Explanation:

1. Density - dependent limiting factors include competition for resources (like food, water, space), predation, and disease. As population density increases, these factors become more impactful.
2. When a shopping mall is built near a rabbit warren, reducing the available land, the environment's carrying capacity for rabbits will decrease because there is less space and potentially fewer resources.
3. Without actually using the Gizmo, we can't provide specific carrying - capacity values. But generally, more land (Ample) would support a higher number of rabbits compared to Moderate and Little land.
4. The amount of space available is directly related to the number of individuals the environment can support. Less space means fewer resources per individual, so the environment can support fewer rabbits.
5. Limiting a population's space decreases the carrying capacity because it reduces the availability of resources such as food, water, and shelter per individual, and can also increase stress and competition among individuals.
6. Another density - dependent limiting factor could be food availability. As the population density increases, there is more competition for the available food resources. If the food supply does not increase with the population, it will limit the population size.

Answer:

1. Competition for food, predation, disease.
2. The carrying capacity will decrease.
3. (No values can be provided without using Gizmo, but conceptually: Ample - higher number, Moderate - medium number, Little - lower number)
4. Less space means the environment can support fewer individuals due to reduced resources per individual.
5. It reduces resource availability per individual and increases competition and stress.
6. Food availability. As population density increases, competition for food rises and can limit population size.