Consider the Life of the Praying Mantis

question 2

Multiple Choice

Consider the life of the praying mantis. The large predatory female lays several hundred eggs in a foam mass in the fall. The young are most vulnerable when they emerge in the spring, but the few that survive spread out over the countryside and, if they find a mate, lay eggs the following fall. Which type of survivorship curve does this represent?

• A) type I
• B) type II
• C) type III
• D) type I or II
• E) There is not enough information given to determine the type of survivorship curve.

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Definitions:

Abrasion

The process of scraping or wearing away of the skin or surface material, often due to friction or rubbing.

Salty Soil Conditions

Soil conditions where there is a high concentration of salt, often detrimental to most plants.

Aleurone

A protein-rich layer found just inside the seed coat of grains, involved in the storage and enzymatic breakdown of nutrients during germination.

Gibberellin

Plant hormone that induces stem elongation; also helps seeds break dormancy.