DENSITY-INDEPENDENT FACTORS
Other environmental factors limiting populations are influenced by unpredictable events such as freezing weather, heavy snow, blizzards, fire, wind, and other natural disasters—all of which are considered abiotic factors.

On Isle Royale, these density-independent factors influence the population dynamics of the moose and wolves on Isle Royale in two typical ways: freezing weather and heavy snow.

During winter, either or both of these abiotic factors can cause the population of moose to drop. With fewer moose on the island, the population of wolves also may decrease, because the wolves' primary food source becomes harder to find.