Lecture 7 - Seed Predation Flashcards
______% of seeds germinate within the first year in transient seedbanks
80%
________ of seeds germinate every year in persistent seed banks
10-20%
biological weed control
control of a weed species by their natural enemies to maintain the weed population below the level of economic injury
examples of biocontrol agents
invertebrates
pathogens
mammals
birds
fish
types of weed biocontrol
classical weed control (importation)
Inoculation
augmentation
inundation
conservation
2 types of seed predatory attacks
before or after dispersal
nuts and bolts
a) insects eat the seed
b) embryonic plants are killed
c) plants suffer fitness costs
pre-dispersal seed predation
carried out by specialist insects where they attack the seed heads and destroy the seeds
pre-dispersal seed predation examples
moths (caterpillars)
midges (larvae)
wasps (larvae)
post-dispersal seed predation
carried out by non-specialist vertebrates and invertebrates where they attack seeds on the soil surface and destroy them
examples of post-dispersal seed predation
carabid beetles
crickets
ants
slugs
earthworms
mice
life cycle of a carabid takes ______ year
1
carabids usually have ____ larval instars
3
what parts of the carabids are responsible for sensing chemicals of seeds
maxillary palps, labial palps, and eyes
insects go for the seeds with the ______ profile
simplest
