Answer using one (word-processed – 12 font single space) page or less. Due
at beginning of class Sept. 18th
(1) If birds are a major selective force on caterpillar dietary specialization on
woody plants in forests, why are some of the most abundant (and
economically important caterpillar species) generalists?
(2) Plants have evolved mechanisms to enhance indirect defenses. For example
specific volatiles are released in response to herbivore attack and are used by
parasitoids to locate feeding caterpillars. Do you think that plants have
evolved traits that alert birds (primarily visual predators) to the presence of
feeding caterpillars?