This laboratory exercise examines the response of native birds to different frequencies of a mimic species while holding the other two parameters constant - the degree of distastefulness and the resemblance of the mimic to the model.
In this laboratory exercise, the following issues are examined: 1) why neither predators nor prey go extinct when there is a long period of nonrenewal of the prey population 2) the effects of habitat on foraging speed 3) the advantages foragers can gain from experience in foraging 4) the advantage of exclusive use of an area for foragers 5) the effects of food density on foraging speed 6) the...
In this experiment, students observe sawfly galls (Hymenoptera) on willow (Salix) trees to investigate some of the ecological consequences of plant-herbivore relationships. The physical and chemical traits of plants vary due to genes and environmental factors, such as soil moisture, nutrient levels, exposure to pathogens, and exposure to herbivores. These traits can lead to differences in...
A community of wildflowers growing in a restored prairie in southwestern Wisconsin. The community pictured was open to foraging by meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), resulting in vegetation dominated by species that voles typically do not consume, particularly black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). In contrast, experimental plots that excluded voles were dominated by plant species that...
In this Issue, students will examine published data that address the ecological consequences of introduced species. Activities engage students in data analysis and hypothesis testing, and will increase their understanding of the complexities of ecological phenomena. This Issue focuses on ecological consequences of introduced species using several case studies - zebra mussels, brown tree snakes,...
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