Colorado has a vast population of lodgepole pines. A population of lodgepole pines has been killed in a section of the forest. What is a possible limiting factor of that population?

A limiting factor reduces a population’s size or growth. Pine bark beetles can kill lodgepole pines, so their devastation could limit the population. Shallow roots or acidic soils might affect growth, but the stated cause of the trees’ deaths is the beetle.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.