5. Behaviour and Ecology

What is ecology

Ecology is the study of how organism interact with other organisms and their environment

What is behaviour

Is how organisms respond to the other organism and their environment

What are ecological factors and list the 5 main ecological factors

Ecological factors are the environmental factors and biological factors that influence where a pest can live, survive and reproduce and how well that population will develop

The 5 ecological factors are

Food

Water

Shelter/harbourage

Environmental conditions

Other organisms

name the 5 ecological factors and how they influence a pest

The 5 ecological factors are

Food - Provide energy and nutrients for survival, growth and reproduction

Water - essential nutrient for survival

Shelter/harbourage - a protected place allowing a pest to hide, rest and breed

Environmental conditions -

Other organisms

Why is food an ecological factor

Food Provides the energy and nutrients for survival, growth and reproduction

Why is food an ecological factor

water is an essential nutrient that is needed for survival

Why is Shelter/harbourages an ecological factor

Shelters/harbourages offers a place for protection allowing a pest to hide, rest and breed

Why is Environmental conditions an ecological factor

Pest need certain environmental conditions to Survive, grow and reproduce

environmental conditions include:

Rain

Humidity

Temperature

Seasonal changes

Why is Other organisms an ecological factor

Other organism and effect how well a pest can survive, grow and reproduce

other organisms include

• Predators

• Parasites

• Hosts

• Competition between their species and other species

What do activity patterns tell us about pests and name 4 types of activity patterns

activity patterns tell us when a pest is normally active, feeding, moving or searching for resources

Nocturnal - Mostly active at night

Diurnal - Mostly active during the day

Crepuscular - Mostly active at Dusk and dawn

Seasonal Activity - Pest activity changes throughout the year and temperature/rainfall and day length change

Mostly Active at night

Nocturnal

mostly mainly during the day

Diurnal

Mostly active at dusk and dawn

Crepuscular

example of pest that are nocturnal

Cockroaches and bed bugs

Example of pests that are diurnal

Ants and flies

Example of pests that are cresecular

Some mosquitoes

What the general trend with a decrease in temperature

Insects become less active

What is innate behaviour. Give an example

it is an inherited behaviour performed without learning.

example include Reflexes, Taxis and Kinesis

What is a reflex

Its an rapid automatic response to a stimulus

What is a learned behaviour

Give an example

It is a behaviour that is learnt through experience

Ants, bees and rodents learning landmarks and routes to food/nest

What is Taxis

Directed responses towards or away from a stimulus

name the 4 types of taxis

Chemotaxis

Thigmotaxis

Phototaxis

Geotaxis

What is chemotaxis

Give an example

movement in response to chemicals/odours

Mosquito moving towards hosts Odour = positive chemotaxis

What is Phototaxis

Give an example

movement in response to light

Moth flying towards a light = Positive phototaxis

What is Thigmotaxis

Give an example

Response to touch/contact

Cockroach squeezes into tight cracks where their body contacts surrounded surfaces

What is Geotaxis

Give an example

movement in Response to gravity

Insect lava moves downwards into soil = positive geotaxis

What is Kinesis

give an Example

a non-directional change in speed in response to a stimulus

An insect moves fast in a dry area and slower in a moist area

List 5 communication behaviours

Pheromones

aggregation

Foraging

Nesting behaviour

Dispersal

What are pheromones? and what are they used for?

example

Pheromones are chemical signals between members of the same species that can be used for

• communication

• Mating

• Alarms

• Aggregation

• and they are useful for pest control because they can be exploited in pest monitoring traps

Ant trail = Pheromones communication

What is aggregation

example

Pests gathering together in favourable conditions

Cockroach clustered together in harbourage

What is Foraging

example

searching for food, water or resources

worker ants leaving shelter and following trails to food

what is Nesting behaviour

example

Pest choosing or building protected breeding sights

ants establishing a nest inside a wall cavity

What is dispersal

Example

Movement into a new area by walking, flying or being transported

winged termites leaving colony to establish new colonies