nsects are important to many ecosystems. For example, bees help pollinate many different plants and many animals rely on insects as food sources. Citizen science projects allow the public to work together with scientists by collecting observational data on many types of organisms such as plants, birds, or insects.

Question

Which question could citizen science data answer that best illustrates insect population responses to climate change?

(1 point)
Responses

“What types of foods can butterflies eat?”
“What types of foods can butterflies eat?”

“How does caterpillar abundance and distribution change over the year?”
“How does caterpillar abundance and distribution change over the year?”

“How many dragonfly species are native to this region?”
“How many dragonfly species are native to this region?”

“What tree species provide the best habitat beetle species in this area?”

Answer 1

The question that best illustrates insect population responses to climate change is:

"How does caterpillar abundance and distribution change over the year?"

This question directly addresses how the population dynamics of a specific insect group (caterpillars) may be affected by seasonal changes, which are often influenced by climate change. Understanding these patterns can provide insights into how climate factors such as temperature and precipitation affect insect populations.