Question

Mariana heard from her vice principal at school that one of the local recreation areas had been infested with gypsy moths. Because of this, almost all of the leaves are gone from the oak trees in that area. Mariana’s brother Enrique says that all of the trees will now die without leaves for the summer, but Mariana disagrees. Who is correct? Mariana, the trees will survive a season of fungal infection in their leaves. Mariana, the trees can survive one season of defoliation. Enrique, trees cannot survive even one summer without their leaves. Enrique, the trees cannot get enough nutrients to survive without their leaves.

Answer 1

Mariana is correct; oak trees can typically withstand a single season of defoliation by gypsy moths due to their energy reserves and ability to recycle nutrients. They are adapted to resprout new leaves during the next growth season. The correct answer is option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question at hand is who is correct about the oak trees' ability to survive after being defoliated by gypsy moths. In this case, Mariana is correct: trees can survive one season of defoliation. While leaves are crucial for photosynthesis, many trees, particularly oak trees, are resilient and can endure a single season without leaves. The trees have survival mechanisms such as nutrient recycling and energy reserves that help them to overcome temporary setbacks like defoliation.

It is important to note that while some plants, such as monocarpic plants, will die after flowering, many deciduous trees are adapted to lose their leaves seasonally and can resprout new leaves the following spring. However, repeated defoliations or additional stresses such as disease, drought, or insect infestations could weaken the trees and eventually lead to their death if not managed properly.

Furthermore, leaf fall is a natural process in deciduous trees, and they employ strategies to minimize negative effects, by storing food and 'banking' energy over seasons. The persistence of leaf-eating caterpillars could represent a challenge to the ecosystem, much like the native pine bark beetles in North America and Europe have caused extensive forest damage due to their increased numbers as a result of climate change.