Population Ecology #2

Question 1

What needs to be established in Population Ecology?

(2)

Answer 1

a. Average Density (limitation)

b. Dynamic (Regulation)

Question 2

Characteristics of Western Tent Caterpillars

(4)

Answer 2

Gregarious (Live together)

Form tents

Eat deciduous Tree

Origin from Western North America

Cyclic Population Dynamic

Question 3

Western Tent Caterpillars die of Virus

(Nucleopolyhedrovirus)

(3)

Answer 3

a. Caterpillars will catch the virus which causes the virus to replace and use the material of the caterpillar by turning them into virus

v. When a caterpillar dies, the skin becomes fragile which then are deposited on the leaves

c. other caterpillars will eat the leaves and become infected

Question 4

Intrinsic Characteristics of Western Tent Caterpillars

(2)

Answer 4

a. Tent size

b. Fecundity

Question 5

Does temperature have an effect on the reproductive rate of the Western Tent Caterpillars

(2)

Answer 5

a. Colder Spring will lead to population to increase

b. Warmer spring will cause the population to decrease

Question 6

Fecundity can be reduced by (3)

Answer 6

a. Food limitation

b. low food quality

c. sublethal infection

Question 7

Example of Biological Control

(3)

Answer 7

a. Native plants suffer due to certain condition

b. Place the plant in an exotic condition where it is no longer able to suffer from certain condition

c. Recreate natural energy complex

Question 8

Should Cyzenis (European Parasitoids) be introduced as a biological control agent for Winter moth?

• These parasides lay eggs which damages the leaves causing the larvae to drop to the soil to pupate

Answer 8

No because it has been shown that these parasitoids cause little mortality rates compared to the predation