Question

a botanist observes a large population of a particular type of beetle eating the leaves of one tree but not the leaves of a nearby tree. what should the botanist do first to study the interaction of these organisms in the ecosystem?
remove the beetle population from the tree, and study them in the lab.
identify the species of the beetle and the species of both trees.
determine why the beetle is eating one tree but not the other.
recommend a treatment that will keep the beetles from eating the trees.

Explanation:

To study the interaction of the beetle and the trees in the ecosystem, the first step should be to identify the species of the beetle and both trees. This is because knowing the species helps in understanding their ecological relationships, adaptations, and potential interactions. Removing the beetle (first option) is not initial study, determining why (third) comes after identification, and recommending treatment (fourth) is a solution step, not initial study.

Answer:

B. Identify the species of the beetle and the species of both trees.