Question
A native species of butterfly at one site in North America used to feed on plant species P. In the 1960s, an exotic plant species Q was introduced at this site. The butterfly switched to feeding on Q, so much so that it was no longer found feeding on P. When the plant species Q was removed from the site in the 1990s, the butterfly species went locally extinct. Later, a population of the same butterfly species from elsewhere, that still fed on plant P, came and occupied the same site. Which one or more of the processes listed below has/have occurred here?
Ecological Processes Identification
This scenario illustrates key ecological concepts related to population dynamics and species interactions.
Analysis of Processes
- Local extinction: The removal of plant species Q directly led to the disappearance of the local butterfly population, signifying a local extinction event. The butterfly's dependency on Q for food caused this.
- Re-colonisation: The subsequent arrival and establishment of a population of the same butterfly species from another location demonstrate re-colonisation. This new population maintained its original feeding behaviour on plant P.
- Inbreeding depression: This process involves reduced biological fitness in a population due to breeding among related individuals. It is not directly evidenced or implied by the information provided in the scenario.
- Changing trophic levels: While the butterfly changed its food source from P to Q, it remained a herbivore. This represents a dietary shift within the same trophic level, not a change in its overall position in the food web (trophic level).
Conclusion on Occurred Processes
Based on the analysis, the primary processes that occurred are:
- Local extinction
- Re-colonisation
Was this answer helpful?
Important Questions from Community interactions
- Certain species of ibex and weevils depend on the same food source. A study finds that the removal of ibex results in an increase in the number of weevils, but the removal of weevils does not affect the ibex. Which one of the following options best describes this interaction?
- Fungus S infects elm trees and fungus T infects chestnut trees, and both kill their hosts within a year of infection. A forest with equal density of elm and chestnut trees is colonized by both pathogenic fungi. A 100 years later, the elm tree population has declined and the chestnut trees have become extinct. Which one of the following mechanisms would NOT contribute to this outcome?
- Which one of the following is a result of antagonistic coevolution?
- Observations of algal species showed that their diversity was higher in pools where there were grazing snails compared to pools without snails. Which one of the following statements best explains this result?
- Which one of the following ecological processes best explains the observation thatseedling establishment increases with distance from the parent tree in a forest?
Need Expert Advice?
