Earlier bird gets the worm In the United Kingdom, a species of birds breeds in s
ID: 93407 • Letter: E
Question
Earlier bird gets the worm
In the United Kingdom, a species of birds breeds in spring and feeds caterpillars to its offspring. The caterpillars eat the leaves of oak trees. Between 1980 and 2010, temperatures during spring increased, such that oak trees produced buds earlier in the year (Fig. 1).
Use this information and your knowledge of biology to answer the following questions.
ANSWER TRUE OR FALSE AND EXPLAIN.
1. In 1980, an increase in the number of baby birds would likely increase the photosynthesis of oak trees.
2. In 2010, an increase in the number of baby birds would likely increase the photosynthesis of oak trees.
3. In 2010, a bird that laid eggs before April 23rd would have had more offspring survive than a bird that laid eggs after April 23rd would.
4. During the next 30 years, if the peak abundance of caterpillars shifts to April 23rd and birds do not alter their date of laying, the number of birds will remain approximately the same.
5. If birds lay eggs earlier in the year over the next decade, the photosynthesis of oak trees should increase relative to 2010.
2010 1980 Date of Date of Date of Date of Date of Date of leaving the leaving the laying hatching laying hatching nest nest April 23 May 15 May 28 June 2 April 23 May 15 May 28 June 2 2010 1980 April 23 April 23 May 15 May 28 June 2 May 15 May 28 June 2 Figure 1. The time of year when birds need energy (top row) and when caterpillars become abundant (bottom row) shifted between 1980 and 2010. These years are shown in the left and right columns of the figure, respectively.Explanation / Answer
1) In 1980, the increase and decrease in the population of baby birds and population of caterpillars coincide. Therefore, increase in baby birds cause decrease in caterpillar population. So, less leaves are lost in oak trees. So, photosynthesis of oak trees increase. So, this statement is true.
2) In 2010, the timing of increase population growth of baby birds and Caterpillars did not coincide. So, increase in population of baby birds will not increase photosynthesis of oak trees. This statement is false.
3) In 2010, Caterpillars had shifted their population growth from May to April. So, a bird that layvits egg before April 23 has more chance if survival than the bird which lay its egg after April 23. This statement is true.
4) If Caterpillars shift their peak abundance to April 23 and birds do not alter their date of laying, the chances of survival of bird's offspring decrease as there will be less number of Caterpillars to feed upon. The population of birds therefore decrease. The statement is false.
5) If birds lay egg earlier, the timing of hatching will coincide with the peak of caterpillar abundance. It decreases caterpillar population and therefore the photosynthesis of oak trees will increase. This statement is true.
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