A small group of leaf-feeding beetles locates a field of snap beans, one of the preferred plants for this species. At first, the population grows rapidly in the snap bean field, but as the beetle population grows larger, predators, such as spiders and birds, discover the beetles and start to remove individuals from the population. Competition for mates, food, and oviposition (egg-laying) sites intensifies for the individuals in the beetle population as population density increases. A fungal disease also starts to kill many of the beetles. The population no longer grows rapidly but levels off. How would you describe the factors limiting the beetle population?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The factors limiting the beetle population are density-dependent factors because competition for mates, food, and oviposition sites intensifies as population density increases. The predators, as well as the fungal disease, also act as density-dependent factors because they become more effective as the population density increases. Therefore, both B and C describe these factors.

A Small Group of Leaf-Feeding Beetles Locates a Field of Snap