Why Were Ecologists Concerned About the Shift in the Peak

question 2

Multiple Choice

Why were ecologists concerned about the shift in the peak caterpillar season from June 3, 1980, to May 15, 2000?

• A) The caterpillars would have eaten much of the foliage of the trees where flycatchers would have nested, rendering their nests more open to predation.
• B) The earlier hatching of caterpillars would compete with other insect larval forms that the flycatchers would also use to feed their young.
• C) The 2000 flycatcher nestlings would miss the peak caterpillar season and might not be as well fed, leading to population reductions.
• D) The flycatchers would have to migrate sooner to match their brood-rearing to the time of peak caterpillar season.
• E) Pesticides, which have a negative effect on the ecosystem, would have to be used to control the earlier outbreak of caterpillar hatching.

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Definitions:

Fifth Worker

Refers to an addition to a workforce that exemplifies the impact or utility of hiring an additional employee in a given scenario.

Marginal Cost Curve

A graphical representation showing the change in total cost produced by making one additional unit of a good or service.

Average Variable Cost

The total variable cost of producing goods divided by the quantity of goods produced.