Which of the following is the best example of an abiotic factor limiting population size?

A) the amount of aquatic plants eaten by snails in a pond

B) the number of dead standing trees available as nesting sites for downy woodpeckers

C) the spread of deadly human flu virus from one person to another by touching and sneezing

D) the frequency of rainfall needed for the germination of desert plant seeds

D) the frequency of rainfall needed for the germination of desert plant seeds

Explanation:

When we talk about abiotic factors, we refer to the non-living factors. The abiotic components of an ecosystem include: Water, air, temperature, light, and the like.

So if we consider it as a limiting factor to population size, this should be the cause of the limitation.

Among all the choices, only D, shows an abiotic factor being the cause of population limiting. Rainfall is an abiotic factor (water), which influences the germination of desert plant seeds, specifically, it depends on the frequency of rainfall.