Density dependent factors are biological factors that have greater effects on a population as its density increases. Examples of these factors include competition for resources, predation, disease, and waste accumulation. When a population is large, these factors can lead to increased mortality rates or decreased reproduction, thus regulating the population size.
On the other hand, density independent factors impact populations regardless of their density. These are typically environmental factors such as natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, droughts), climate changes, and other abiotic factors, which can affect populations uniformly, regardless of how many individuals are present.
In summary, the key difference lies in how these factors influence populations based on their density. Density dependent factors become more intense with increased population size, while density independent factors apply to all individuals equally, irrespective of the population size.