Crayfish: Reading a Paper Expert

Q.1

The results of the study indicate that there is a significant relationship between crayfish presence and counts of dragonflies and mosquitoes larvae in March, April, June, and July, but not in May and August (Bucciarelli 126). The interaction for all predator treatments (crayfish, dragonfly, and combination) significantly affected survival relative to larval survival in the absence of predators (Bucciarelli 127). The results of the comparison of mean proportion of surviving mosquito larvae indicated significant differences between all treatments and the control, as well as a significant difference between the dragonfly treatment relative to the combination and crayfish treatments (Bucciarelli 128).

Q.2

Dragonfly nymphs are larvae of the dragonfly insect that are aquatic in nature. They are drab with large eyes, 6 legs, and with small wing buds behind their thorax. Their respiratory system is complicated involving drawing in of water and expelling the same through their hind ends.

Predators include all animals that naturally prey on others or a group of others. For example, a wolf is a predator because it preys on smaller animals for its survival.

Carapace is the shield that covers the head or thorax of an insect.

Chelae is the pinching claws of crustaceans including crabs and other animals with immovable or movable pinching fingers.

Q.3

1. Would the results presented be different if the experiment was not controlled?

2. What would be the effect of having a higher population of dragonfly nymphs in relation to the existence and survival of mosquitoes?

Works Cited

Bucciarelli, Gary M., et al. “Assessing effects of non‐native crayfish on mosquito

survival.” Conservation Biology 33.1 (2019): 122-131.