Answer
Cold weather does not depend on density and has the same effect on the different sizes of population. So, typically, the cold weather is a density-independent factor.
Work Step by Step
Severe cold winter conditions were observed during the year 2010. It was hypothesized by researchers that these conditions caused a decline in the python population. Cold weather does not depend on the population of a species or density.
It has the same effect on a denser population as that on a less-dense population. A density-dependent factor such as competition for mate and food may increase along with the increased density. However, a density-independent factor does not depend on the density and has the same effect. Furthermore, in the given problem, the cold weather would not be the major factor for the declining python population in the year 2010. The following table shows the basic difference between the two factors:
