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.

---

Definitions:

Symbolized

Represented by symbols or signs that stand for or suggest something else, often used in various fields for shorthand communication of complex ideas.

Truth-functional

Truth-functional refers to a property of logical connectives wherein the truth value of a statement is determined solely by the truth values of its components.

Quantifier

An operator in logic that identifies how many elements in the scope of discussion meet the criteria of an open formula.

Atomic

Relating to atoms, the smallest unit of a chemical element that retains its chemical properties.