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Ecological Indicators The presence of dr...

Ecological Indicators The presence of dragonflies can reveal changes in the water ecosystems more quickly than studying other animals or plants. In fact, from the nymph to the adult stage, the dragonfly has a significant, positive ecological impact. Dragonfly eggs are laid and hatched in or near water, so their lives impact both water and land ecosystems. Once hatched, dragonfly nymphs can breathe underwater which enables them to eat mosquito larvae, other aquatic insects and worms, and even small aquatic vertebrates like tadpoles and small fish and in the air. Adult dragonflies capture and eat adult mosquitoes. Community wide mosquito control programs that spray insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes also kill dragonflies.
The approach to biological control includes:

A

Import and release of an insect pest to a new area provide hosts for natural enemies

B

Import and release of natural enemies from the native home of an alien insect pest that has a invaded a new area

C

Preservation of natural enemies (predators & parasitoids) that are already established in an area

D

Use of insecticides to reduce alien insect pests to establish new equilibrium position.

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The correct Answer is:
### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding the Role of Dragonflies**: - Dragonflies serve as ecological indicators, meaning their presence or absence can indicate changes in the health of water ecosystems. They are sensitive to environmental changes, making them useful for monitoring ecosystem health. **Hint**: Think about how certain species can indicate the quality of their environment. 2. **Life Cycle and Impact**: - The life cycle of a dragonfly includes both a nymph stage (aquatic) and an adult stage (terrestrial). During the nymph stage, they breathe underwater and consume various aquatic organisms, including mosquito larvae, which helps control mosquito populations. **Hint**: Consider the different habitats (water and land) that dragonflies occupy during their life cycle. 3. **Ecological Benefits**: - Adult dragonflies continue to control mosquito populations by preying on adult mosquitoes. This predation is beneficial for reducing the number of mosquitoes, which can be vectors for diseases. **Hint**: Reflect on the relationship between predator and prey in an ecosystem. 4. **Impact of Mosquito Control Programs**: - Community mosquito control programs often use insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes. However, these insecticides can also harm dragonflies, leading to a decline in their populations, which in turn can disrupt the ecological balance. **Hint**: Think about the unintended consequences of using chemicals in ecosystems. 5. **Biological Control Approaches**: - The question suggests exploring biological control methods. One method is the import and release of natural enemies (like dragonflies) to control pest populations (like mosquitoes). This is a sustainable approach compared to using insecticides. **Hint**: Consider how introducing a natural predator can help manage pest populations without harming the ecosystem. 6. **Evaluating Options**: - The options provided in the question include various biological control strategies. The first option, which involves importing and releasing insect pests to provide hosts for natural enemies (dragonflies), is correct because it aligns with the concept of biological control. **Hint**: Analyze each option carefully to determine which aligns with the principles of ecological balance and biological control. ### Final Answer: The correct approach to biological control in this context is the **import and release of insect pests to a new area to provide hosts for natural enemies (dragonflies)**.

### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding the Role of Dragonflies**: - Dragonflies serve as ecological indicators, meaning their presence or absence can indicate changes in the health of water ecosystems. They are sensitive to environmental changes, making them useful for monitoring ecosystem health. **Hint**: Think about how certain species can indicate the quality of their environment. 2. **Life Cycle and Impact**: ...
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