[Keedeon]

Could anyone help me on these two questions, for both of them I'm pretty sure its a or b ... but I dont know which answer would be stronger ..


The checkerspot butterfly caterpillar lives in the southern U.S. and feeds on the leaves of several species of annual plants. The survival, and ultimately the reproductive life cycle, of the checkerspot is dependent upon the abundance of the plants. Plant survival is dependent upon availability of water. The caterpillars have never become abundant enough to deplete their food supply. In fact, their life cycle is dependent upon the life cycle of the annual plants. The longevity and success of the plants is influenced by the availability of water held in the soil and the winter rains. In a wet spring the plants will remain green well into late May or early June so the caterpillars will develop to maturity. In drought years, the plants flower and fade before most caterpillars can mature sufficiently to metamorphose into the butterfly.


1. In reference to the above information, the life cycle of the annual plants is crucial to the survival of the caterpillars. The density-dependent factor which has the greatest impact on the survival of the caterpillars is
A. number of available plants
C. time of year when the plants appear
B. length of time the plants grow
D. number of caterpillars in the community


2. In reference to the above information, the density-independent factor most likely to influence the number of plants in the community is
A. quality of soil
C. hours of sunlight daily
B. precipitation levels
D. length of growing season

[hannmatt92]

(Original post by Keedeon)
Could anyone help me on these two questions, for both of them I'm pretty sure its a or b ... but I dont know which answer would be stronger ..


The checkerspot butterfly caterpillar lives in the southern U.S. and feeds on the leaves of several species of annual plants. The survival, and ultimately the reproductive life cycle, of the checkerspot is dependent upon the abundance of the plants. Plant survival is dependent upon availability of water. The caterpillars have never become abundant enough to deplete their food supply. In fact, their life cycle is dependent upon the life cycle of the annual plants. The longevity and success of the plants is influenced by the availability of water held in the soil and the winter rains. In a wet spring the plants will remain green well into late May or early June so the caterpillars will develop to maturity. In drought years, the plants flower and fade before most caterpillars can mature sufficiently to metamorphose into the butterfly.


1. In reference to the above information, the life cycle of the annual plants is crucial to the survival of the caterpillars. The density-dependent factor which has the greatest impact on the survival of the caterpillars is
A. number of available plants
C. time of year when the plants appear
B. length of time the plants grow
D. number of caterpillars in the community


2. In reference to the above information, the density-independent factor most likely to influence the number of plants in the community is
A. quality of soil
C. hours of sunlight daily
B. precipitation levels
D. length of growing season

Pretty sure the answer to one is A) Number of available plants and the answer to two is B ) precipitation levels.