Which density-dependent process contributed most significantly to the recovery of the North American monarch butterfly population after the severe winter losses of 2002?
A) Unusually mild weather in the eastern United States greatly improved juvenile butterfly survival.
B) Butterfly predators starved when the monarch population dropped, and by the time it had recovered, Monarch population numbers were back up.
C) Egg production is inversely proportional to density; the surviving monarchs had ample resources and experienced maximal reproduction.
D) With fewer returning adults, there was less competition for food among the young caterpillars, and their survival rate was unusually high.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Density-dependent factors such as competition for resources and disease can limit population growth, but in the case of monarch butterflies, egg production is inversely proportional to density. With ample resources, the surviving monarchs were able to maximize their reproduction, leading to a significant population recovery. Mild weather and reduced predation may have also played a role, but egg production is likely the most significant factor.

Which Density-Dependent Process Contributed Most Significantly to the Recovery of the North