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Lack of dead insects
Name: Marilyn Chu
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
One question I've always wondered about are is about the paucity of
dead creatures I see. I mean, considering the number of ants on the ground and
the chances of their being stepped on, I would expect to see more dead bugs on the
ground or on the bottom of my shoe, but I don't see this. Phrased another way, a
certain number of creatures must die in a population in order for that population
to survive on the available resources, and this number would seem to be more than
that which I see. Are most populations of organisms limited by predation then?
Marilyn ChuOne question I've always wondered about are is about the paucity of
dead creatures I see. I mean, considering the number of ants on the ground and
the chances of their being stepped on, I would expect to see more dead bugs on the
ground or on the bottom of my shoe, but I don't see this. Phrased another way, a
certain number of creatures must die in a population in order for that population
to survive on the available resources, and this number would seem to be more than
that which I see. Are most populations of organisms limited by predation then?
Replies:
Ants and maggots eat most dead bugs very quickly. (Ants carry off dead
ants!) That's why you don't see more dead bugs. (Ants are EVERYWHERE!)
Jade Hawk
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Update: June 2012
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