Question

analysis

1. read each situation in the chart below. then, state if it is a density - independent (d.i.) limiting factor or a density - dependent (d.d) limiting factor. then state the specific limiting factor that is occurring.

situation	d.i. or d.d.?	specific limiting factor
the bp oil spill in the gulf of mexico has harmed many aquatic organisms that live in the gulf region.
a new strain of influenza (the flu) breaks out in new york city
a population of rabbits and a population of deer are bot feeding off the same plants in the same habitat
hurricane katrina forced thousands of people to leave new orleans
due to humans putting increasing amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and cutting down trees that would normally take up some of those gases, the earth slowly gets warmer and changes climates around the globe. this effects the polar bear population.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each situation based on density - independent (D.I.) and density - dependent (D.D.) limiting factors. Density - dependent factors depend on population density (e.g., predation, competition, disease), while density - independent factors are abiotic and not related to population density (e.g., natural disasters, pollution, climate change).

Situation 1: Northern pike and yellow perch

• D.I. or D.D.?: D.D. (Predation depends on the density of the prey population; as yellow perch population increases, pike have more food, so pike population increases. This is a biotic factor related to population density.)
• Specific Limiting factor: Predation (The pike preying on perch affects the pike population based on perch population density)

Situation 2: BP oil spill

• D.I. or D.D.?: D.I. (Oil spill is a human - caused pollution event, an abiotic factor, and its impact on aquatic organisms is not related to the population density of those organisms.)
• Specific Limiting factor: Pollution (The oil spill pollutes the environment and harms aquatic organisms)

Situation 3: Influenza outbreak in NYC

• D.I. or D.D.?: D.D. (The spread of a disease like influenza in a population depends on the density of the human population in NYC. More people mean easier transmission.)
• Specific Limiting factor: Disease (The flu is a disease that spreads based on human population density)

Situation 4: Rabbits and deer competing for plants

• D.I. or D.D.?: D.D. (Competition for resources (plants) depends on the density of both rabbit and deer populations. Higher population densities mean more competition.)
• Specific Limiting factor: Competition (Both species are competing for the same food resource, and the impact depends on their population densities)

Situation 5: Hurricane Katrina

• D.I. or D.D.?: D.I. (A hurricane is a natural disaster, an abiotic factor, and its impact on people (forcing them to leave) is not related to the population density of people in New Orleans.)
• Specific Limiting factor: Natural Disaster (Hurricane Katrina is a natural disaster that affects the human population)

Situation 6: Climate change and polar bears

• D.I. or D.D.?: D.I. (Climate change is an abiotic factor (related to global environmental changes) and its impact on polar bears is not related to the density of the polar bear population. It is a result of human - caused environmental changes like greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.)
• Specific Limiting factor: Climate Change (The change in climate (warming, changing climates) affects the polar bear population)

Answer:

s in table form:

Situation	D.I. or D.D.?	Specific Limiting factor
The BP oil spill in the gulf of Mexico has harmed many aquatic organisms that live in the gulf region.	D.I.	Pollution
A new strain of influenza (the flu) breaks out in New York City	D.D.	Disease
A population of rabbits and a population of deer are both feeding off the same plants in the same habitat	D.D.	Competition
Hurricane Katrina forced thousands of people to leave New Orleans	D.I.	Natural Disaster
Due to humans putting increasing amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and cutting down trees that would normally take up some of those gases, the Earth slowly gets warmer and changes climates around the globe. This affects the polar bear population.	D.I.	Climate Change