Population Ecology #1

Question 1

What is a population?

Answer 1

Individuals that live in a specific area that are likely to interbreed

Question 2

Why study insect ecology?

(4)

Answer 2

Some insects are pest

Some insects are good for biodiversity studies

Insects consists of interesting dynamics

How will warming climate influence insect population?

Question 3

Characteristics of Population

(4)

Answer 3

Density

Sex Ratio

Gene Frequencies

Distribution (Where to lay the egg)

Question 4

Measuring density (5)

• Gives you information based on the number of insects per plant and predator to prey ratio

Answer 4

Sweep Net

Beat Sample

Pitfall sample

Pheromone Trap

Direct Count

Question 5

What are the characteristics in which moth choose their location to lay their eggs on a catoblastis

(3)

Answer 5

a. Moth tend to choose plants that are more green as it consists of higher levels of nitrogen which are better for the larae

b. They tend to choose plants based on the size

c. They tend to choose large green plants that have were previously attacked

Question 6

Intrinsic factors of density

(4)

Answer 6

Fecundity (number of eggs produced by female) will determine if the population will increase overtime or decline

Physiology

Behavior

Genetic variability

Question 7

Capital Breeders

Answer 7

Larvae feed enough so that they can produce enough eggs -laid all egg as a single egg mass

Question 8

Income Breeders

Answer 8

Come out as adult, but do not have all eggs produced so need to eat in order to have enough resources to make enough egg

Question 9

Extrinsic Factors affecting Density

(5)

Answer 9

Weather
Habitat quality
Competitors
Predators
Disease